Listen to Business Execution Radio Episode 89:

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Tony Greenwald, Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington discusses the impact unintentional biases have on talent management practices.  Tony invented the Implicit Association Test (IAT).  The IAT shows how unconscious biases create hiring, promotion and pay decisions that adversely impact certain demographic groups.  Tony’s research on decision making biases is perhaps best known among the general public because it is discussed at length in Malcolm Gladwell’s bestselling book “Blink”.  Tony explains why companies continuously struggle with issues of adverse impact and the legal and operational risks this has on business execution. He provides suggestions on how to reduce bias in performance management processes, but notes that there is no simple single solution.

Fair and consistent treatment of people regardless of ethnicity, age, and gender is critical to any company wishing to fully leverage the capabilities of its workforce. This topic extends well beyond the business world, and has significant legal and social implications as well.  Learn why biases persist, their impact and how to minimize the risks they create from the world’s leading expert in this area – this week on Business Execution radio.

Additional resources:

• The Psychology of Blink: Understanding How Our Minds Work Unconsciously