Certification credit = 1
Breaking Down Barriers Through Awareness: Unconscious Bias
2-hour
We all have prejudices we are not even aware we have. Buried prejudice and biases are surprisingly influential underpinnings to all the decisions we make, affecting our feelings and consequently actions. The phenomenon is called unconscious bias. The concept of unconscious bias or “hidden bias” has come into the forefront because the dynamics of diversity are changing.
Primarily, it is very important to understand biases in order to overcome them. Your willingness to examine the filters through which you view and interpret yourselves and others is an important step in understanding the roots of stereotypes and prejudice in our society and in our workplaces. This program will help you understand and challenge unconscious bias. We will also discuss intervention strategies to mitigate unconscious bias.
Objectives:
• Understand the purpose of bias.
• Define the term bias as it pertains to diversity.
• Raise awareness of the research behind unconscious bias.
• Understand the filters through which you view and interpret yourselves and others.
• Appreciate how unconscious bias can adversely affect judgment and decision making.
• Identify steps for controlling biases in your thinking.
Prerequisite: Complete Harvard’s online Implicit Bias test(s).
Loretta Summers, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Noted for her enthusiasm, passion and humor, Loretta combines energy and real-world experiences to facilitate personal and organizational change. She has assisted managers and executives become more effective leaders and achievers; she has helped teams improve team cohesion, communication and performance; and has helped employees at all levels gain insight into their natural and adapted behavior in the workplace, navigate uncertain terrain, overcome obstacles and chart a course for success. Clients include manufacturing organizations, union and non-union businesses, banks, telecommunication companies, hospitals, not-for-profit organizations, restaurants, and state and local governments.
With expertise in the areas of diversity, human resources management, leadership and management development, and conflict management, Loretta custom designs and facilitates seminars to help individuals and organizations align their potential for success.
Loretta also offers executive coaching to leaders in organizations, providing development feedback in the context of their current job, without removing them from their day-to-day responsibilities. She works with executives who feel that a change in behavior—either for themselves or their team members—can make a significant difference in the long-term success of the organization.
Loretta has 40+ years of progressive human resources experience in union and nonunion environments. She has an M.B.A. and is certified by HRCI as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and certified by SHRM as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). She serves as adjunct faculty at Baker University, MidAmerica Nazarene University and Johnson County Community College. She is a Certified Associate and Certified Coach with Lee Hecht Harrison, a talent solutions company focused on delivering Career Transition, Leadership Consulting and Workforce Solutions for organizations.
