OWP liVe REPORT

23

Words matter - beware of bias in language

L E A D E R S H I P

What leaders say and how they say it shapes people's understanding and influences outcomes. Yet many leaders are unaware of how language biases outcomes and need to be more attentive to the words they choose. The language we use influences the way we think. Words shape behavior, cultural norms, ways of thinking and acting but leaders’ inattention to the way words can influence, can lead to framing bias of which they might not even be aware. In an interactive and engaging session, Adjunct Professor Heather Cairns-Lee helped leaders think through how they can recognize and shift language bias. Bias is implicit associations or attitudes, shortcuts that can have profound implications. Bias can be conscious, whereby people are aware of their likes and dislikes. But much of the time, bias is unconscious, meaning people are unaware of their internal associations and What is bias?

judgements and the danger is that these associations influence decision-making.

in-group bias (favoring people in your group) combine to create a comfort zone bias which is dangerous for leadership. However, the bias that creates the biggest challenge to decision-making is framing. Participants did not expect framing to be a such major challenge to leadership and were keen to know more about it. Framing influences the way information is presented and it happens through language. Words create meaning and shape the way we think. Language illustrates what is valued and what is not. Research shows that changing the way people talk changes the way they think. Therefore, leaders need to be aware of how they frame issues in ways that are clear and unbiased.

Cairns-Lee introduced the acronym BIAS to help participants remember how bias operates: Blind-spots, Interpretations, Associations and Shortcuts. In a rapidly changing world, where we are continuously bombarded with new information, we seek patterns and associations to make sense of the world around us. Our biases act as a shortcut to help us make quick decisions.

HEATHER CAIRNS-LEE IMD Adjunct Professor

Where does bias come from?

Bias is both innate and learned. Research shows bias starts as early as preschool and by the age of eight, children have already developed strong implicit biases. Nurture therefore plays a critical role in how we see the world.

What can leaders do about bias?

The first step is noticing bias, which is key to recognizing and shifting it.

What biases present the biggest challenge to leadership?

As bias operates largely out of conscious awareness attention to noticing the words we use provides a specific action that

The confirmation bias (looking for ways to justify your existing beliefs) and the