A C.A.L.M. Approach to Bias
People who know me best know how much I love podcasts. Before my favorite podcast app, Stitcher, stopped recording listening hours, I was up to over 22,000. Yes, you read that right. I’ve listened to more than 22K hours of podcasts on that app as of August 2020, but I also listen on Spotify and Apple too, so that actual number is much, much higher.
Anyway, I’m getting away from the point of this post which is to share my enthusiasm about being featured on one of my favorites, “Bourbon, Beer, and Bold Conversations”! Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) experts and hosts, Clayton Sinclair and Sean Leavitt, invited me on to share my thoughts on gender bias and Harvard’s Implicit Association Test. To say I was thrilled would be an understatement! The opportunity to share my passions for podcasts, neuroscience, DEI, and beer all at one time make those 45 minutes some of my best moments of 2021.
As our conversation flowed, I talked about my favorite frameworks and models I use in workshops and trainings to help people understand how bias works in our brains and practical ways to overcome it. An effective one I created is C.A.L.M. which stands for Conscious, Acceptance, Labeling, and Mitigation. There are numerous ways we experience bias everyday that we easily recognize (overt racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, etc.), but most of our biased behaviors are unconscious because of the way our brains are designed to function. When we are curious and open to becoming consciously aware, that is the first step in dismantling harmful biased behaviors and building more inclusive, equitable environments. Acceptance is a challenge, but possible with education and support. Labeling what we feel as we do the uncomfortable work to change our biased tendencies helps us process our emotions that come up so we can move forward towards our goals. And lastly, Mitigation is action-oriented and essential to creating real change that, over time, enables individuals and organizations to be more innovative, ethical, and profitable.
To hear me share more about C.A.L.M. and what Clayton and Sean think about it, listen to the episode! If you like what you hear or find it helpful, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with others, and tell me what you think! Also, if there is an organization you know of that can benefit from the information I have on bias, set up a time to talk to me about ways I can coach, consult, or facilitate a Changing Bias, Changes Lives workshop.
Keshawn Hughes is an intuitive, neuroscience-based coach who helps individuals and organizations improve their lives and business outcomes. Schedule a Discovery Call today to see how she can help you, and learn more ways to optimize your life at keshawnhughes.com