Unconscious biases (also called implicit biases) are social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness. In English, that means that all humans are wired to function on auto-pilot when needed, and as a result we sometimes make judgments and decisions based on faulty assumptions. While these assumptions are usually harmless, if they go unchecked they can wreak havoc in our decision-making at work. This workshop will not only teach students to identify unconscious biases, but will also provide practical tools to keep those biases from negatively affecting our decisions at work. A number of case studies will be utilized to set the stage for gaining a deeper understanding of how unconscious biases most often taint our decision-making, and they will also be used as a roadmap for implementing practical and easy-to-implement solutions to keep bias out of our decision-making processes. 

Course topics include:

• Identifying the meaning and effects of unconscious biases through the study of research defining key terms.
• Learning ways in which biased decision-making has an effect in the workplace.
• Mastering methods to eliminate bias from workplace decision-making.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn to recognize unconscious attitudes and beliefs or increase your awareness of conscious bias
• Learn to manage unconscious bias by finding ways to confront your unconscious attitudes and make better decisions in the workplace
• Learn strategies and skills to recognize, remove, prevent and/or mitigate unconscious bias