HBR IdeaCast

A New Way to Combat Bias at Work

Jan 14, 2020
Joan Williams, a leading professor and the founding director of the Center for WorkLife Law at UC Hastings, dives into the complexities of workplace bias. She argues that while eradicating unconscious bias organization-wide is tough, individual managers can effectively interrupt bias within their teams. Williams shares actionable strategies for improving hiring, meeting dynamics, task assignments, and performance reviews. She asserts that embracing these practices can harness the power of diversity and enhance corporate success.
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INSIGHT

Bias Patterns

  • Four bias patterns exist: "prove it again," "tightrope," "maternal wall," and "tug of war."
  • These patterns, triggered by race and gender, affect workplace dynamics.
INSIGHT

Diverse Team Benefits

  • Well-managed diverse teams perform better due to broader ideas and collective intelligence.
  • They also exhibit higher commitment and improved problem-solving skills.
ADVICE

Diverse Hiring

  • Insist on diverse candidate pools, aiming for at least two women or minority applicants.
  • Use objective criteria and rubrics to evaluate candidates consistently, minimizing bias.
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