How Frontline Bias Can Cost You, Customers, And How To Address It

Throughout society, racial myths about success and achievement are still prevalent. The fact that black professionals are today more educated than ever before and that many corporations are becoming aware of their own unconscious bias are both examples of progress. While this may be true, underrepresented persons are nonetheless subject to constant reinforcement of the assumptions made about who they are and what they are capable of doing by the general public.

They do not prevent us from achieving success, but they do make it a little more difficult. It is necessary for us to confront and manage with them on a daily basis, presumptions about our social statuses, educational levels, and other factors.

Unconscious biases are ingrained in all of us as a result of broader narratives in our culture, and we all have them. PWC created a short commercial called "Blindspot" to emphasize the impact that biases have on our work environment.

Even in the workplace, identity-related tales may be just as damaging. In part as a result of discrimination, Black professionals confront severe obstacles to upward mobility, falling behind their white counterparts in terms of promotions, management positions, and pay fairness.

When it comes to diversity, inclusivity, and belonging, why should we care if our prejudices cause microaggressions, exclusion, and the reduction of people to their engraved historical biases? I'll tell you why, and it's a two-fold one:

First and foremost, we should all aspire to be better human beings than we are. Inextricably linked is our fate as human beings, and we need one another's support and compassion in order to continue moving forward as a community. It should come as no surprise that empathy has been connected to both invention and creativity in the past century. As humans, we all have different needs. 6 Human needs bind us together and we all have them. Certainty, Variety, Significance, Love&Connection, Contribution and Growth. It's human to have all of our needs met. .

Second, tackling unconscious biases in order to build a more inclusive workplace is just beneficial for business in and of itself. Recent studies have demonstrated that more equal and just firms foster more workplace performance and profitability than their counterparts. Here is another short video on the importance of understanding our "Unconscious Bias at Work"

Workplace narratives focusing on one's own identity are no less detrimental. Racial discrimination impediments Black professionals' upward mobility, as they lag behind their white colleagues in terms of promotion, managerial positions, and pay equity.

Does microaggressions and exclusions, because of an individual's race, gender, or sexual preference matter? Absolutely!

As a first step, every one of us should strive to improve. We must depend on one another for support and compassion as a society if we are to continue progressing. Nobody is shocked to find that empathy is strongly associated with creativity and creative problem-solving.

Second, confronting unconscious biases in order to create a more inclusive work environment is sound business practice. A recent study indicates that businesses with more equitable and just work environments have better levels of employee satisfaction and productivity. Consider the following:

• According to some research, diverse teams create 19% more revenue than homogenous ones.
• Profitability is 33 percent higher for firms with the most racially diverse boards.
• When teams follow an inclusive method, decisions are made twice as quickly and meetings are halved.
• Between 2007 and 2009, the S&P 500's stock price fell 35.5 percent, whereas enterprises with a diverse and inclusive workforce saw their stock price grow 14.4 percent.

As an inclusive leadership trainer and content designer, I've worked with a range of organizational management to debunk misunderstandings about race and professional achievement. Here are a few things you can do to contribute to workplace diversity:

1. Recognize your own biases. Consider why you may have acquired these narratives about members of different groups and be candid with yourself about any erroneous assumptions you may have made.
2. Take no offence if you are confronted. Consider it a blessing if someone points out your role in perpetuating a false racial narrative. Unlearning our preconceptions takes a lifetime.
3. Learn about the experiences, tenacity, and accomplishments of those who have been marginalized by mainstream culture. Historically marginalized individuals have defied assumptions about who they are and what they can be since the beginning of humanity.

To have a better understanding of ourselves, we must become more conscious of our own preconceptions and the narratives we are constantly exposed to. To ensure long-term success in the workplace and in the communities in which we live and work, we must promote an environment of mutual respect and trust among our employees, customers, and suppliers.

Resources for these articles are: Forbes.com, Harvard Business Review, Gallup.com

Kevin Britz