What strategies can you use to encourage team members to challenge assumptions and biases?

1 Define assumptions and biases

Assumptions are beliefs or ideas that we take for granted or accept as true without evidence or verification. Biases are preferences or prejudices that influence our judgment or behavior in favor of or against something or someone. Both assumptions and biases can affect how we perceive, interpret, and respond to information, situations, and people. They can also create blind spots, stereotypes, and conflicts that undermine our team's performance and morale. Therefore, it is important to define and recognize the common types of assumptions and biases that may affect your team, such as confirmation bias, halo effect, groupthink, or implicit bias.

2 Create a safe and respectful environment

One of the key factors that enable your team members to challenge assumptions and biases is a safe and respectful environment where they can express their opinions, share their experiences, and listen to others without fear of judgment, criticism, or retaliation. As a supervisor, you can create such an environment by setting clear and consistent expectations, norms, and values for your team. You can also model and promote open and honest communication, constructive feedback, and mutual trust and support among your team members. Additionally, you can address any issues or conflicts that arise from assumptions and biases promptly and fairly.

3 Encourage curiosity and learning

Another strategy to help your team members challenge assumptions and biases is to encourage them to be curious and willing to learn from different sources, perspectives, and experiences. You can do this by providing them with opportunities and resources to expand their knowledge, skills, and awareness of various topics, issues, and cultures. You can also ask them to research, explore, and share information that challenges or contradicts their existing beliefs or ideas. Furthermore, you can invite them to participate in activities or events that expose them to diverse people, opinions, and backgrounds, such as workshops, webinars, or networking sessions.

4 Facilitate reflection and dialogue

A crucial step to challenge assumptions and biases is to facilitate reflection and dialogue among your team members. Reflection is the process of examining and evaluating one's own thoughts, feelings, and actions in relation to a specific situation or issue. Dialogue is the exchange of ideas and opinions among people with different views or experiences. Both reflection and dialogue can help your team members to identify and question their assumptions and biases, understand and appreciate their impact and implications, and develop new or alternative ways of thinking or acting. You can facilitate reflection and dialogue by asking open-ended questions, providing feedback, and creating space and time for your team members to share and discuss their insights and learnings.

5 Reinforce positive behaviors and outcomes

The final strategy to encourage your team members to challenge assumptions and biases is to reinforce positive behaviors and outcomes that result from doing so. Reinforcement is the process of strengthening or increasing the likelihood of a behavior or outcome by providing rewards or recognition. Reinforcement can motivate your team members to continue to challenge their assumptions and biases and to apply their learnings and changes to their work and interactions. You can reinforce positive behaviors and outcomes by acknowledging and celebrating your team members' efforts, achievements, and contributions, as well as by providing them with feedback, support, and opportunities for growth and development.

6 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?