@nataliewarnert

OWNING YOUR BIAS Natalie Warnert – #AD16

September 15, 2016

@nataliewarnert Natalie

Warnertwww.nataliewarnert.com@nataliewarnert

@nataliewarnert

Teams are diverse entities whose norms are formed by the individual and collective experiences of their members.

How experiences shape them are sometimes readily apparent; other times they are not.

“”

@nataliewarnert

THIS LEADS TOINTERACTIONALBAGGAGE

@nataliewarnert

PERSONAL ACTIVITY

What are some inaccurate perceptions people have made about you?

@nataliewarnert

MY INSPIRATION #WOMENINAGILE

Intimidation from a lack of diversityMen: 3%Women: 9%

Why are you less involved in the agile community than you would like to be?

@nataliewarnert

MY INSPIRATION #WOMENINAGILE

Intimidation from a lack of diversityMen: 3%Women: 9%When you think of women specifically, why do you think they are less involved in the agile community?Intimidation from a lack of diversityMen: 60%Women: 33%

Why are you less involved in the agile community than you would like to be?

@nataliewarnert

UNDERSTANDING PERSONAL BIAS

1. Look at a belief you hold strongly2. Identify the reasons for it3. Understand and recognize your right to your

belief4. Identify reasons for different beliefs and

approaches5. Understand and recognize that people who have

different beliefs have the same rights6. Be willing to integrate other people’s

information as well as ours into our approach to helping

7. Understand how this belief influences your behaviors and interactions

8. How will you remain self-aware of this influence?

http://www.perinatalprofessionals.org/images/cs_for_pros_handouts.doc

@nataliewarnert

UNDERSTANDING PERSONAL BIAS

1. Look at a belief you hold strongly2. Identify the reasons for ithttp://www.perinatalprofessionals.org/images/cs_for_pros_handouts.doc

@nataliewarnert

Individuals create their own social reality from their perception of the input

-Wikipedia

“”

@nataliewarnert what does this

mean for teams?

@nataliewarnert

diverseindividual experiences

and interactions

leadto diverse team experiences and interactions

@nataliewarnert baggage

collected through these interactions and experiences

influencesperceptions, behaviors, judgements.

team normsthat result are directly affected

@nataliewarnert

IT’S AWKWARDTO ADDRESS

@nataliewarnert

WHAT DOES SOCIETY PERCEIVE

SOFTWAREDEVELOPER

SOFTWARE TESTER

PROJECT MANAGER

MANAGER.

MOST POPULAR IMAGE (PERSON) BY SEARCH TERM

@nataliewarnert

WHAT DOES SOCIETY PERCEIVE

FEMALESOFTWAREDEVELOPER

FEMALESOFTWARE TESTER

FEMALEPROJECT

MANAGER

FEMALEMANAGER.

MOST POPULAR IMAGE (PERSON) BY SEARCH TERM

@nataliewarnert

THESE IMAGESSAY A LOT

@nataliewarnert

WE SAY

WE WANTdiverse teams

WEWANTeffective interactions

BUT WEIGNOREour different experiences, emotions, and societal pressures that lead us to interact with each other differently

@nataliewarnert how do we

own our interactions?

@nataliewarnert by admitting

we havebiases

@nataliewarnert

UNDERSTANDING PERSONAL BIAS

1. Look at a belief you hold strongly2. Identify the reasons for it3. Understand and recognize your right to your

belief4. Identify reasons for different beliefs and

approaches5. Understand and recognize that people who have

different beliefs have the same rightshttp://www.perinatalprofessionals.org/images/cs_for_pros_handouts.doc

@nataliewarnert

In every human interaction there is an emotional aspect – what people are feeling, attitudes based on past experience that are shaping their perceptions.- Closing the Interaction Gap

“”

@nataliewarnert

BEHAVIORS AVOIDANCE CREATES

“Past histories of poor interaction between groups can breed resentments that are difficult to overcome. Even positive emotions can get in the way of effective interaction. People or groups who like and respect each other may hesitate to speak up about problems or share their ideas for fear of offending the other party and upsetting the relationship.”

Defensiveness – natural reaction is to defend your position –your style of working has created success in the past so the problem must be with the other people. – It’s easier to see in others than ourselves

-Closing the Interaction Gap

@nataliewarnert

FOUR FATAL FLAWS

TOWER OF BABELFailing to create a shared language around interaction

THE GRAVITY OF HABITUnderstanding the power of group norms

ONE AND DONEFailing to transfer skills from theory to reality

HEAD OVER HEARTIgnoring the impact of emotions and defensiveness

Closing the Interaction Gap

@nataliewarnert

COHESION

CONVERGENCE

CONFORMITY

UNDERSTANDING GROUP NORMS

Is the group conforming around norms that work against effective interaction? Is this influencing the diversity of the group?

Closing the Interaction Gap

@nataliewarnert

THIS ALL LEADS TO

BIASED INTERACTIONS

GROUP NORMS

SOCIETY EXPERIENCE

PERCEPTION

@nataliewarnert

UNDERSTANDING PERSONAL BIAS

1. Look at a belief you hold strongly2. Identify the reasons for it3. Understand and recognize your right to your

belief4. Identify reasons for different beliefs and

approaches5. Understand and recognize that people who have

different beliefs have the same rights6. Be willing to integrate other people’s

information as well as ours into our approach to helping

7. Understand how this belief influences your behaviors and interactions

8. How will you remain self-aware of this influence?

http://www.perinatalprofessionals.org/images/cs_for_pros_handouts.doc

@nataliewarnert

WE HAVE A RIGHT

TO BELIEVE WHAT WE WANT

-JUDGEMENTS-STEREOTYPES-PREJUDICE-BIAS

@nataliewarnert

WE DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT

TO TREAT OUR TEAMMEMBERS UNFAIRLY BECAUSE OF OUR BELIEFS OR PRESS OUR BELIEFS ON TO OTHERS

@nataliewarnert

WE DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT

TO TREAT OUR TEAMMEMBERS UNFAIRLY BECAUSE OF OUR BELIEFS OR PRESS OUR BELIEFS ON TO OTHERS

WE MUST PREVENT THE JUDGEMENT FROM BECOMING A BIAS-CHARGED INTERACTION, REACTION, OR BEHAVIOR

@nataliewarnert it is hard

to beself-aware

@nataliewarnert

WHAT CAN WE CHANGE?

Get to know people who buck or break your stereotypes and judgements

Learn about the roots of stereotypes, judgements, and bias in your own life

Leave processing time or retrospect on personal thought processes

Practice self-awareness and emotional intelligence

@nataliewarnert

WHAT CAN WE CHANGE? CTA!

How will you measure growth?

What are your goals for future interactions?

What does improvement and success look like?

Formulate a plan with specific actions and timelines

@nataliewarnert

WHAT DID IDO?

@nataliewarnert

KEY TAKEAWAYS

IDENTIFYPersonal bias (implicit or explicit), judgements, and understand the roots

ACCEPTThat you have the right to believe what you want

MONITORHow we interact with others in spite of or because of our bias and create an action plan to improve

@nataliewarnert

THANKSFOR COMINGwww.nataliewarnert.com

@nataliewarnert