our areas of expertise
Unconscious Bias
What is Unconscious Bias?
Unconscious bias refers to the mental shortcuts that the unconscious brain takes in decision-making. In the context of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), it refers to how we treat people based on our unconsciously held beliefs about their cultural identity characteristics, such as race/ethnoculture, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and more.
The Impact of Unconscious Bias on Organizations
Unconscious bias permeates both talent management practices and client/customer experiences, which is why it is critical that organizations work to address it. At bci, we’re globally renowned for applying practical frameworks as part of our unconscious bias training and advisory services.
Why Choose bci for Your Unconscious Bias Training
Our unconscious bias training is the backbone of our work at bci. We focus on providing leaders and their teams with a shared language and understanding of how bias plays an important role in work environments. In our sessions, we focus on:
Science and Data
Highlighting the neuroscience of bias, drawing on leading scientific research and data in this area
Naming Specific Biases
Identifying specific forms and examples of bias that manifest within organizations and team interactions
The Impact of Bias
Understanding how bias has an adverse effect on professionals from equity-seeking communities, in order to increase buy-in
Practical Strategies
Providing practical, concrete tools and strategies for addressing biases at the individual and organizational level
We Work With Organizations to Interrupt Biases in Talent Management
Inclusive talent management is critical for creating an organizational culture that supports the advancement of professionals from equity-seeking communities, including professionals of color, women, LGBTQ+ professionals and professionals from other communities.
We work with organizations to identify and interrupt biases, applying a DEI and anti-oppression lens across key talent management areas, including recruitment, work allocation, mentorship and sponsorship, performance management and promotions.
Did You Know?
We are hardwired to treat some people better than others.
If you have a brain, you will engage in bias!
Across all interactions, we unconsciously sort people into “us” and “them” or “in-group” and “out-group”. We then unconsciously gravitate towards those who we view as “us” and tend to avoid those who we view as “them”.
The key for interrupting our unconscious biases is to recognize you’re doing this, be compassionate with yourself because this is how the brain works, leverage strategies to identify what your biases are and then work to replace stereotypes with positive truths about others.
All of bci’s unconscious bias training can be offered in a webinar or virtual workshop format.
Our Unconscious Bias Training in Action
Online Training with bci
Find out more about our unconscious bias e-learning modules, which can help you scale training across employee groups or office locations.
Recommended Unconscious Bias Resources
- Tip sheet — 10 Things You Need to Know About Unconscious Bias by bci
- Assessment tool — Harvard’s Implicit Association Tests by Harvard University
- Book — The Value of Difference: Eliminating Bias in Organisations by Binna Kandola
- Book — Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Online resource — Bias Busters Collection by McKinsey Quarterly
Unconscious Bias Resources
