Recently, while engaging in conversation with a coworker, I expressed my slight trepidation in meeting a new client at their physical office space for the first time since the pandemic began. As we bantered in casual conversation, I explained that the client’s soft spokenness (as I had perceived) and her gentle demeanor would clash with my direct and assertive personality. I also imagined myself towering over her, because for some reason, my brain associated her reserved personality with a person with a smaller stature. My coworker, amazed, completely disagreed. She thought that the new client would be mean and aggressive, due to her executive level role within the company, which was a sentiment based on her experience working with C-Level/Executives. Who was correct? Neither one of us. Was my profile of the client better than my coworkers’ because mine was ‘nicer’? No. Our discussion can be equated to the expression of what is commonly known as unconscious bias.
It is not as uncommon as you think.
What is unconscious bias? Well, simply put - unconscious bias, also commonly referred to as implicit bias, is the unintentional expression of prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another. Although such expressions are done unconsciously, the effects can span from being completely harmless to totally harmful or even hurtful for the recipient.
Does this mean I am a bad person? Absolutely not.
Everyone has some form of unconscious bias, whether learned from their childhood and environments, or even from daily experiences. The key is to recognize aspects of your life in which you may express unconscious bias to other people, places or things. This is not a one step process; it is a lifelong journey of self awareness, unlearning deeply ingrained, ignorant beliefs and stereotypes and embarking on new experiences with an open mind.
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