Overcoming unconscious bias in professional settings

Abstract

While we often think we are acting rationally and scientifically, we are influenced by unconscious biases resulting from stereotypes, shortcuts automatically established by our brains through education and life experience. To be able to limit their impact and make more objective and relevant decisions, we first need to be aware of the existence of these stereotypes, of their influence on some of our choices, particularly in the workplace, and then of the importance of basing our main personnal assessments and decisions (recruitment, promotion and mobility) on objective assessment criteria. Committed to professional equality and diversity, INRAE has therefore undertaken to train its staff in the risks of unconscious bias and the way to circumvent them. It ensures a balance (between genders, origins, ages, etc.) between the people.