{"id":1043,"date":"2021-02-08T11:37:56","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T18:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canopyadvisory.com\/?p=1043"},"modified":"2023-11-07T22:39:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T05:39:39","slug":"how-do-you-identify-bias-without-coming-off-as-overly-sensitive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canopyadvisory.com\/how-do-you-identify-bias-without-coming-off-as-overly-sensitive\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Identify Bias Without Coming Off As Overly Sensitive?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Does Calling Out Bias Make You Thin-Skinned?<\/h2>\n

Question:<\/h2>\n

I just completed a new-hire onboarding that included videos on promoting diversity at work. One issue the videos didn\u2019t talk about was how to ID bias without coming across as thin-skinned. I\u2019m a WOC and this is my biggest concern when it comes to office bias. Would love to hear your take.<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/h2>\n

Between micro-aggressions, accusations of quota-filling, and reverse-affirmative action\u2014the institutionalized \u201cway to win in the workplace\u201d manual tells us to wade carefully in matters related to bias and diversity. Or better yet, stay quiet altogether.<\/p>\n

But staying quiet in the face of inequity doesn\u2019t sit well with me and it doesn\u2019t sit well with you either. It shouldn\u2019t sit well with anyone. So how can we speak up and call out bias without jeopardizing our professional reputation?<\/p>\n

Well, good news. We have a roadmap\u2014data, and it will lead us out of these murky waters. It will help us identify instances of bias with confidence. Or as you said, without fear of coming across as \u201cthin-skinned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a live walk-through of how data can help identify bias.<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. In your annual performance review, your manager says that teammates have been complaining about your communication style, calling it rude and snappy.<\/li>\n
  2. You\u2019re caught off guard because this is the first time you received a negative evaluation of your communication style.<\/li>\n
  3. You ask your manager for specific examples of times when you\u2019ve been rude and snappy.<\/li>\n
  4. Your manager provides nebulous references to what other team members have allegedly said. You\u2019re told to review past communications with colleagues and going forward, you\u2019re advised to re-read your messages before clicking send.<\/li>\n
  5. You don\u2019t think this is a fair evaluation of your communication habits but don\u2019t know what to tell your manager. You don\u2019t want to sound like you\u2019re complaining.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Is the above scenario an example of gender bias? If so, how can you prove it?<\/h2>\n

    Let\u2019s dig into the research. Here\u2019s what we find:<\/p>\n