Everyday Actions Leaders Can Take to Interrupt Bias
The Harvard Business Review recently reposted this article about how great leaders interrupt bias on their teams, and there were so many great pearls of wisdom and tips that I lost count…
A couple of ideas around day-to-day activities particularly resonated:
Set up a rotation for office housework, and don’t ask for volunteers – There are no superpowers associated with ordering a cake, team event planning, or arranging staff gifts…and we all have the same 24 hours in a day. Consider a formal rotation for these types of “housework” tasks to level the playing field and set the expectation that everyone pitches in.
Schedule meetings inclusively – Before or after-hours meetings are incredibly stressful for caregivers and those with demanding personal lives (and their families). When possible, schedule meetings during business hours.
Acknowledge the importance of lower-profile (read: undervalued and often unpaid) contributions – Take a look around – who’s spending the most time doing the important but often undervalued work in the workplace, such as DEI, wellness, and mentoring? If your organization truly values these activities, then “walk your talk”…in the form of protected time, compensation, and promotion.
