What are some effective ways to manage your biases as a servant leader in a design leadership role?

1 Identify your biases

The first step to manage your biases is to recognize and acknowledge them. You can use various tools and methods to help you identify your biases, such as self-assessment, feedback, reflection, and research. For example, you can take online tests to measure your implicit biases, ask for honest feedback from your peers and stakeholders, reflect on your past experiences and actions, and read about different types of biases and how they affect design. By identifying your biases, you can become more aware of your blind spots and assumptions, and how they might influence your behavior and judgment.

2 Challenge your biases

The second step to manage your biases is to challenge and question them. You can use critical thinking, empathy, and curiosity to test your biases and expose them to alternative perspectives and evidence. For example, you can ask yourself why you hold a certain bias, how it affects your design choices and outcomes, what are the potential risks and consequences of your bias, and what are some counterexamples or contrary opinions that challenge your bias. By challenging your biases, you can reduce their impact and increase your openness and flexibility.

3 Mitigate your biases

The third step to manage your biases is to mitigate and minimize them. You can use various strategies and techniques to reduce the influence of your biases on your design process and team dynamics. For example, you can use data and user feedback to validate your assumptions and hypotheses, involve diverse and representative users and stakeholders in your research and testing, seek out different opinions and perspectives from your team and other experts, and create a culture of psychological safety and trust where everyone can share their views and concerns. By mitigating your biases, you can improve your design quality and effectiveness, and foster a more collaborative and inclusive environment.

4 Learn from your biases

The fourth step to manage your biases is to learn and grow from them. You can use your biases as opportunities to improve your skills, knowledge, and performance as a servant leader in a design leadership role. For example, you can track and measure your progress and results, solicit and act on constructive feedback, acknowledge and correct your mistakes, and celebrate and share your successes. By learning from your biases, you can enhance your self-awareness and confidence, and demonstrate your commitment and accountability.

5 Educate others about biases

The fifth step to manage your biases is to educate and inform others about them. You can use your influence and authority as a servant leader in a design leadership role to raise awareness and understanding of biases among your team members, stakeholders, and users. For example, you can provide training and resources on biases and their effects on design, encourage dialogue and discussion on biases and their challenges, model and reward positive behaviors and actions that address biases, and advocate and support initiatives and policies that promote diversity and inclusion. By educating others about biases, you can create a positive impact and change, and inspire and empower others to follow your example.

6 Review and update your biases

The sixth step to manage your biases is to review and update them. You can use continuous improvement and innovation to keep your biases in check and adapt to changing needs and contexts. For example, you can revisit and revise your biases regularly, based on new information and feedback, monitor and evaluate your performance and outcomes, and experiment and explore new ideas and approaches. By reviewing and updating your biases, you can stay relevant and responsive, and lead by learning.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?