We make snap decisions every day based on knowledge, experience, personality, and needs – what skill set do we need to recruit for, or what car should we buy next? We also make decisions based on preferences we’re not aware of from lessons learnt in childhood. These might lead us to favour a certain car over another, or a certain person over another based, not on qualifications, but on appearance, culture, or ‘something I just can’t put my finger on.’ That favouritism, that un-owned feeling, may be a sign of unconscious bias. If unaddressed, unconscious bias can lead to decisions that unfairly discriminate against individuals and can harm workplaces through unfair hiring practices, lack of diversity, sullied reputation and missing out on recruiting the best candidates for the job.

Unconscious bias can get in the way of DEI in the workplace. These unthinking biases might lead us to favor people like us or overlook good ideas from others based on stereotypes. That’s why organisations need to tackle these hidden biases. Doing so ensures a fair and welcoming space for everyone, no matter their background.

This course will give you the information and tools to define and understand unconscious bias, identify potential biases in your workplace, and develop strategies to best support your DEI efforts.