OWP liVe REPORT

24

Attention to our words helps us recognise our frames and biases. What kind of language should leaders be attentive to?

leaders can take to address bias. “Unless leaders notice their thoughts and words, there is little they can do to shift their bias,” Cairns-Lee said. She offered the ‘Be WARE’ model to equip participants with a useful mnemonic to help them recognise and minimize language bias.

Leading questions

1

Are you asking a question of genuine inquiry and curiosity or are you seeking confirmation of your existing beliefs? Beware if it is the latter, this reinforces the confirmation bias.

Be WARE of your words and how they frame

B reathe: Slow down to notice bias

2

Categorical language

W ords: What words are used?

Are you inadvertently stereotyping people and groups through using categories? Beware if so as this can, unintentionally, maintain bias.

A ssociations: What associations do the words have?

R eframe: What alternatives are there?

E valuation: What difference does this make?

3

Metaphors

As powerful framing devices, metaphors stimulate implicit associations. Beware of the associations inherent in your choice of metaphors and the bias for action these can trigger. Cairns-Lee is an expert on how leaders make meaning through metaphor. “People who are in power get to impose their metaphors,” she said.

While participants thought it would be easier to apply this tool in writing than in speech, they noted that slowing down and being attentive to words made a big difference in how they are understood.

HEATHER CAIRNS-LEE