This eLearning course provides a thorough exploration of unconscious bias — the automatic, often unintentional judgements and assumptions that everyone makes about other people based on their characteristics. Unconscious biases are shaped by our experiences, our environment, and the stereotypes we absorb from the world around us, and they can have a significant impact on the decisions we make in the workplace, often without us even realising it.
The course begins by explaining what unconscious bias is and why it occurs, drawing on the psychological research that underpins our understanding of how the brain uses shortcuts and patterns to process information quickly. It covers the different types of bias that commonly affect workplace decisions, including affinity bias (the tendency to favour people who are similar to ourselves), confirmation bias (seeking information that confirms our existing beliefs), the halo effect (allowing one positive characteristic to influence our overall impression), and groupthink (conforming to the views of the group).
The training addresses the impact that unconscious bias can have across a range of workplace activities, including recruitment and selection, performance management, promotion decisions, and client interactions. It explains how bias can lead to unfair outcomes, limit diversity within organisations, and result in decisions that are not based on objective criteria. The course uses scenarios and examples to illustrate how bias manifests in practice and the consequences it can have.
Practical strategies are provided for recognising and mitigating unconscious bias, including techniques for slowing down decision-making, challenging assumptions, seeking diverse perspectives, and using structured and objective criteria for evaluating people and situations. The course also addresses the importance of creating a culture where bias can be discussed openly and where individuals feel empowered to challenge decisions that may be influenced by bias. Upon completion, learners will understand what unconscious bias is, recognise how it can affect their own decisions, and have practical tools for making fairer and more objective choices.
