How can you recognize and overcome your own biases in facilitation?

1 Identify your biases

The first step to overcome your biases is to acknowledge that you have them. Biases can be conscious or unconscious, and can stem from various sources, such as your background, culture, education, experience, or media exposure. To identify your biases, you can use self-reflection, feedback, or tools such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT) to uncover your preferences, stereotypes, or prejudices. You can also monitor your thoughts, feelings, and reactions during facilitation, and notice when you make judgments, assumptions, or generalizations about yourself, others, or the situation.

2 Challenge your biases

The second step to overcome your biases is to question them. Biases can be based on inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information, and can lead to distorted or narrow perspectives. To challenge your biases, you can use critical thinking, research, or dialogue to examine the evidence, logic, or validity of your views. You can also expose yourself to diverse sources of information, opinions, and experiences that can broaden your horizons and challenge your assumptions. You can also seek feedback from others who have different backgrounds, perspectives, or expertise than you, and listen to their insights and perspectives.

3 Manage your biases

The third step to overcome your biases is to control them. Biases can be triggered or activated by various factors, such as stress, fatigue, emotions, or time pressure. To manage your biases, you can use self-awareness, mindfulness, or relaxation techniques to calm yourself and reduce the influence of your biases. You can also use strategies such as reframing, postponing, or delegating to avoid making hasty or biased decisions or actions. You can also use tools such as checklists, rubrics, or guidelines to ensure that you follow objective and consistent criteria and standards in your facilitation.

4 Address your biases

The fourth step to overcome your biases is to correct them. Biases can have negative consequences for yourself, others, or the facilitation process and outcomes. To address your biases, you can use apology, accountability, or action to acknowledge your mistakes, take responsibility for your impacts, and make amends or improvements. You can also use feedback, learning, or coaching to identify your areas of improvement, seek guidance or support, and develop new skills or behaviors. You can also use evaluation, review, or revision to assess the quality and effectiveness of your facilitation, and make changes or adjustments as needed.

5 Leverage your biases

The fifth step to overcome your biases is to transform them. Biases can also be sources of learning, growth, or innovation, if you use them constructively and creatively. To leverage your biases, you can use curiosity, openness, or empathy to explore your biases, understand their origins and meanings, and appreciate their value or potential. You can also use diversity, collaboration, or co-creation to involve others who have different or complementary biases, and leverage their strengths or contributions. You can also use creativity, experimentation, or iteration to use your biases as inspiration or motivation, and generate new ideas or solutions.

6 Support others' biases

The final step to overcome your biases is to help others overcome theirs. Biases can affect not only you, but also your participants, stakeholders, or partners in facilitation. To support others' biases, you can use respect, inclusion, or equity to create a positive and respectful environment, where everyone feels welcome, valued, and heard. You can also use facilitation, dialogue, or mediation to facilitate constructive and respectful conversations, where everyone can express, listen, and learn from each other's biases. You can also use empowerment, recognition, or celebration to encourage and appreciate everyone's participation, contribution, and achievement in facilitation.

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?