The Respect Effect
May 28, 2015
Dee Anne Bonebright
Todd Thorsgaard
Unconscious Bias
Biases are the invisible air we walk through –
exerting their influence outside of conscious
awareness.
Source:
Lieberman, Rock, & Cox
2014
Cognitive Shorthand
• Use previous knowledge to make decisions
Shortsighted Outcomes
• Miss new information
• Narrow our options
Bias Blind Spot
• Biases are unconscious
• We like being right and they
help us
• “Most of what goes on in
organizations is
unintentional”
Need To Mitigate – Not Just Educate
• More than self-awareness
• Group and team processes
• Action
“In-Group” Bias
• Affects how people work
together
• More similar = Positive
perception
• Increased interaction and
support for in-group
How to Mitigate “In-Group” Bias
• Find ways to see others who are different from us as also
similar
• Intergroup interactions
• Enhancing communication
Elements of Individuality
Source:
Maria Arocha White,
Inclusity Consulting
New Definitions
“Diversity means to me your
background based on your previous
work experience, where you were
born and raised, and any unique
factors that contribute to your
personality and behavior.”
Source:
Millennial survey respondent
Deloitte University (2015).
The Respect Effect
Source:
Paul Meshanko
Legacy Business Cultures
Neuroscience of Respect
People can identify another person’s apparent race, gender, and
age in a matter of milliseconds. In this blink of an eye, a
complex network of stereotypes, emotional prejudices, and
behavioral impulses activates.
-- Marsh, Mendoza-Denton, & Smith
Neuroscience of Respect
Why are we able to recognize the human face more easily than
any other object?
Disrespect = Threat Response
• The experience is immediately sent to long-term storage in
our brains
• Adrenaline and cortisol are increased – when it happens and
also when we recall it
• Decreases sense of engagement with others, increases stress
and stress-related illnesses
Respect is…
An active process of:
• non-judgmentally engaging people
• from all backgrounds
• to increase my awareness and effectiveness
• in a manner that esteems both myself and those with whom I
interact
12 Rules of Respect
1. Be aware of your nonverbal and extra-verbal
cues
12 Rules of Respect
2. Develop curiosity about the perspectives of
others
12 Rules of Respect
3. Assume that everyone is smart about
something
12 Rules of Respect
4. Become a better listener by shaking your “but”
12 Rules of Respect
5. Look for opportunities to connect with and
support others
12 Rules of Respect
6. When you disagree, explain why
12 Rules of Respect
7. Look for opportunities to grow, stretch, and
change
12 Rules of Respect
8. Learn to be wrong on occasion
12 Rules of Respect
9. Never hesitate to say you are sorry
12 Rules of Respect
10. Intentionally engage others in ways that build
their self-esteem
12 Rules of Respect
11. Balance Talking and Listening
12 Rules of Respect
12. Smile
Self-Assessment
Where are you a rock star?
What are your learning edges?
How can you address them?