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Diversity & Inclusion Report from the 2015 NeuroLeadership Summit: Accelerate Leadership
Organizations have historically struggled with diversity and inclusion. There is now a shifting tide, with major organizational focus being put into making a difference in that arena. In this session panelists from leading industry research firms will present findings on the state of diversity and inclusion, and engage in discussion with industry leaders, and neuroscientists to explore the right way forward.
Bias is a big issue for companies — and people in general. It affects everything from hiring to purchasing decisions and everything in between. The fact is, whether we like it or not, we’re all biased. We can’t help it. It’s prewired in our brains and makes us who we are.
So what can companies do about it?
Read the full article and watch the video here.
Imagine that you are hiring an employee for a position in which a new perspective would be valuable. But while reviewing resumes, you find yourself drawn to a candidate who is similar in age and background to your current staff. You remind yourself that it’s important to build a cohesive team, and offer her the job.
Ms. Or suppose that you’re planning to vote against a significant new investment. This is the second time it’s come up, and you voted no before. A colleague argues that conditions have changed, the project would now be highly profitable, and you can’t afford to lose this opportunity. Upon closer examination, you see that his data is convincing, but you vote no again. Something about his new information just doesn’t feel relevant.
These are examples of common, everyday biases. Biases are nonconscious drivers — cognitive quirks — that influence how people see the world. They appear to be universal in most of humanity, perhaps hardwired into the brain as part of our genetic or cultural heritage, and they exert their influence outside conscious awareness. You cannot go shopping, enter a conversation, or make a decision without your biases kicking in.
Organizations understand the need for a diverse workforce and are investing to achieve it. And yet, progress is far short of where it should be, despite good intentions. New research in neuroscience suggests this discrepancy has to do with the very conceptual foundations of traditional bias training programs.
Join Heidi Grant Ph.D., Senior Consultant at NeuroLeadership Institute, for a complimentary webinar that unpacks some of this research and examines why learning about bias does nothing to mitigate it. Participants will explore alternative, neuroscience-driven ways forward that target the root causes of workplace bias.
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