Course Description
When we have a residual opinion against someone or something, also called bias, we often accept ideas about people before we get to know them. These assumptions are often inaccurate. But how does bias happen? In this Understanding Bias course, you will learn how to identify your assumptions and biases, the effects they have on relationships, how they might hurt your career, and simple steps to overcome them. We’ll discuss how biases happen, what consequences they bring, and how you can work to reduce their impact.
We all have biases. Overcoming bias may seem overwhelming at first. We’ll help you practice self-reflection, learn more about people who have different backgrounds than you, be more aware of your decision-making, and look for information regarding your biases. When we seek to overcome our biases, our personal and work lives improve. At work, you’ll come up with more innovative ideas to make others feel welcome and valued. Outside of work, you’ll expand your social circle and enjoy deeper connections with the people you care about. Many factors influence the biases we have, including upbringing, culture, identity, and openness. In this course, we’ll look at why it’s best to remain open to exploration.
What You'll Learn
- Define what bias is and why we experience it
- Identify your own assumptions and biases
- Explore the ways bias is harmful and the consequences it brings
- Recognize how bias affects relationships and can hurt your career
- Practice simple steps and self-reflection to overcome your biases
Key Takeaways
- Bias is a residual opinion against someone or something that leads us to accept often inaccurate assumptions about people before we get to know them.
- Biases can damage relationships and may hurt your career.
- Many factors influence the biases we have, including upbringing, culture, identity, and openness.
- Overcoming bias involves self-reflection, learning about people with different backgrounds, being more aware of decision-making, and seeking information about your biases.
- Reducing bias improves both personal and work lives, leading to more innovative ideas at work and deeper connections outside of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will I learn in the Understanding Bias course?
You will learn how to identify your assumptions and biases, the effects they have on relationships, how they might hurt your career, and simple steps to overcome them. The course also covers how biases happen, what consequences they bring, and how to reduce their impact.
How is the Understanding Bias course structured?
The course includes the lessons Introduction, How Does Bias Happen?, The Consequences of Bias, Overcoming Your Biases, and a Test your Knowledge section.
Who is this course for?
Because we all have biases, this course is for anyone who wants to identify their assumptions and biases, understand the effects they have, and learn simple steps to overcome them and improve both their personal and work lives.
What factors influence the biases we have?
According to the course, many factors influence our biases, including upbringing, culture, identity, and openness, which is why it discusses why it's best to remain open to exploration.
What skills does this course help develop?
The course relates to skills including empathy, concept analysis, understanding social influences, and recognizing and addressing biasing.
