2.5: Understanding Bias
Bias plays a role in any conflict as you try to come to a resolution. For example, if you supervise several people involved in a conflict, you may like one of the employees involved in the conflict and make a decision based on those feelings. You may be unaware of these feelings and your personal bias, or you may be fully aware of that bias and may not care.
Personal bias can change the outcome of a conflict, and, as a manager, you must be aware of this bias and what you do about it. If your employees feel that you may favor one employee over another, they may be less likely to speak up when any situation involves that employee, and you will lose the trust of your employees. For example, a manager takes over a new job and hires friends she has worked with before. The manager does not hold these people accountable for the same issues that other employees may get into trouble for, or she may promote these people more easily. In contrast, more qualified individuals are not promoted. This builds a lack of trust within the team, and people may leave if they don't believe they have an equal chance of getting a promotion. Read this section about the different types of bias and how personal bias might change based on circumstances.
There are different types of bias in the workplace to be aware of, and some may be made unconsciously. These biases might include age, beauty, culture, gender, weight, attribution, confirmation, or affinity. As a manager, you must be aware that these biases may unconsciously affect your decision-making or in the middle of a conflict. They must be acknowledged as you try to remain unbiased in the negotiation process. It is also important to note that some biases may be a conflict of interest. This page explains a few of these biases and how they may be seen as a conflict of interest.
As a manager, you must recognize bias and understand that when managing your team, managing conflict, or during any negotiation. Read this section (and watch the video) about understanding and overcoming personal bias. How has bias affected the negotiation process in your experiences? What did you learn?