During the current module of the Leadership Development programme I’m delivering at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, we’ve delved into the topic of unconscious bias. It’s been enlightening to see how this subject resonates with clinical leaders.

 Unconscious bias, those automatic judgments we make without even realising it, significantly influence our decisions and interactions. It’s vital to understand that we all have biases—it’s a part of being human. However, as leaders, it’s our responsibility to recognise and manage these biases to foster an inclusive and equitable environment.

 Here are a few approaches we’ve discussed:

🤔 Self-Awareness – Are you aware of your unconscious biases? There are over 140 of which 10 are recognised as being the most common in the workplace. Harvard’s Implicit Association Tests are a great place to start (https://lnkd.in/eGHAtxFr)

🪞Self-Reflection – Regularly take time to reflect on your decisions and interactions. Ask yourself if biases might have influenced them.

👨🏻‍🎓 Education – Continuously educate yourself on different types of biases. Understanding is the first step toward mitigation.

📣Feedback – Create a culture where feedback is encouraged and valued. Others can often see our biases more clearly than we can. Research demonstrates that our colleagues and team members value an awareness of our biases as one of the most important traits of an inclusive leader. What is there perception of your biases?

🫂 Inclusive Practices – Implement practices that promote inclusivity, such as diverse interview panels, listening groups, seeking cross organisational input to change programmes.

 By actively working to recognise and manage our unconscious biases, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone. This means we will find it easier to recruit and retain good people as we know that inclusive leadership gives our people a greater sense of engagement and commitment to what we are trying to achieve.

 How do you identify and manage your unconscious biases? I’d love to hear your strategies and insights