{"id":2037,"date":"2020-05-14T16:30:35","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T16:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coachdiversity-institute.lndo.site\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=2037"},"modified":"2025-10-14T12:17:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T12:17:53","slug":"how-to-use-coaching-to-manage-unconscious-bias-in-the-workplace-2","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/coachinginnovation.co\/blog\/how-to-use-coaching-to-manage-unconscious-bias-in-the-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Use Coaching To Manage Unconscious Bias In The Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As an executive coach, you\u2019re a great lead and advocate for companies looking to prevent the harmful repercussions of unconscious bias in the workplace. While it may seem nearly impossible, you can implement strategies to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">help clients maintain self-awareness, general mindfulness, and call attention to their biases through targeted questions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most obvious ways bias shows up are in the first things we notice when we meet someone new; their gender, skin color, and age.\u00a0 Unconscious bias is dangerous because it leads us to stop listening without fully understanding, hearing only what is convenient for us. We might make conclusions or decisions without wholly knowing the details of a situation. We block ourselves off from learning opportunities and even potential relationships.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/business\/talent\/blog\/talent-acquisition\/why-unconscious-bias-training-does-not-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">several types of bias<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> we regularly see in our daily lives. Below are a few:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cognitive Bias. The tendency for people to do or think things simply because other people do or think them, like skipping class in high school because your friends did.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confirmation Bias. Favoring information that confirms your existing beliefs, even if you\u2019re presented facts that prove you wrong. You\u2019ve probably seen economic or political arguments arise because of this.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expedience Bias. You may make a quick decision based on whatever information feels right to you at the time, like assuming someone is trustworthy because they are friendly.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coaches are a great asset for businesses looking to create inclusive workplaces and expand beyond tired stereotypes. You can guide others toward positive changes and mindfulness that creates happier, more productive work environments.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some steps you could take as a coach to help a business eliminate unconscious bias in their workplace:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Analyze the company culture\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bad habits can\u2019t be stopped if your client is unaware of them. Help identify where and how an unconscious bias is creating a toxic environment by asking the hard questions. In your client\u2019s answers, you\u2019ll find where stunted thinking is holding them back.\u00a0 Look for other clues such as animosity among staff members or a high turnover rate and address them with company leaders and anyone in charge of recruitment. It likely begins as early as the scouting and hiring process. Teach executive teams how to be more supportive of their employees and encourage a welcoming work culture by pinpointing the behaviors or procedures that need to change.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seek the right skills<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Human brains like to take shortcuts, this is why people make assumptions based on stereotypes. For example, statistically, if we think <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/studies-show-the-advantages-of-being-beautiful-2013-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">someone\u2019s attractive, we&#8217;re also likely to assume they\u2019re more competent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and trustworthy. Teach your client to ignore any impressions based on physical appearances and look at the simple facts; what is the candidate\u2019s work history? What skills can they bring in that would be complementary to the current team? Help them recognize when they make an assumption and ask them why that was their first reaction and where it might come from. With your guidance, they\u2019ll learn to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/business\/talent\/blog\/talent-acquisition\/taking-unconscious-bias-out-of-the-hiring-equation?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">take age, gender, and race completely out of the equation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and cultivate a team based on their merits.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diversify established teams\/ departments<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People with a diverse set of skills and experiences complement one another by filling in the gaps, providing better ideas, and more solutions for businesses. Teach your client to identify individuals or groups with skill sets that can be put to good use outside of their departments.<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cornerstoneondemand.com\/rework\/5-tips-managing-unconscious-bias-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reevaluating the team\u2019s skills<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and encouraging new collaborations can inspire brighter brainstorming sessions, better results, and improve feelings of compassion and camaraderie among employees.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find commonalities with everyone<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People are naturally drawn to others that have things in common with them, so eliminating unconscious bias requires diligent daily practice. Self-awareness can become second nature for your clients with exercises that will reprogram their minds to see everyone as being part of their group. Encourage communication practices that will help employees confidently start conversations and improve their work relationships. Goal-oriented objectives are also a great way to unite employees, even if it\u2019s as simple as, \u201cintroduce yourself to five coworkers you\u2019ve never met by Friday.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hold everyone accountable<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through actionable plans, you\u2019ll help businesses restructure and set criteria in place that will <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/lee-colan\/4-keys-to-coaching-underperforming-employees.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hold everyone accountable<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in dissolving the biases that create company division. It takes the entire community to cultivate a positive, safe, and welcoming atmosphere. This can only be achieved if everyone, from executives to staff members, is held responsible for their actions, considers feedback earnestly, and engages in open communication so that everyone feels heard and valued.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great coaches help organizations achieve equality and unity through guidance that will adapt as the company grows long after the coaching relationship has ended. Ideally, businesses will continue to encourage collaboration and build strong foundations of inclusivity based on your recommendations and the tools you leave them with. By removing unconscious bias from their hiring processes and internal procedures, they&#8217;ll improve company morale, productivity, and their bottom-line.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are interested in learning more about how to foster change in the workplace, consider <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/coachdiversity.com\/coach-training\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CoachDiversity\u2019s Coach Training Program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Offered several times a year, there are three levels of training available, all designed to suit your needs. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/coachdiversity.com\/certification\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/coachinginnovation.co\/contact-us\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact us today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As an executive coach, you\u2019re a great lead and advocate for companies looking to prevent the harmful repercussions of unconscious bias in the workplace. While it may seem nearly impossible, you can implement strategies to help clients maintain self-awareness, general mindfulness, and call attention to their biases through targeted questions. The most obvious ways bias <a href=\"https:\/\/coachinginnovation.co\/blog\/how-to-use-coaching-to-manage-unconscious-bias-in-the-workplace\/\" class=\"more-link\">&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  How To Use Coaching To Manage Unconscious Bias In The Workplace<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2039,"template":"","blog_categories":[],"class_list":["post-2037","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Using Coaching to Address Unconscious Bias in the Workplace<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As an executive coach, you\u2019re a great lead and advocate for companies looking to prevent the harmful repercussions of unconscious bias in the workplace.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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