# Corporate Leadership: Understanding Your Own Bias Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-06-16 Category: Author Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/author Meta Title: Top Strategies for Creating an Inclusive Workplace Meta Description: Get insights on leading diverse teams and creating inclusive environments from 3C Consulting CEO Cornelia Shipley Bearyman, MBA, PCC, ELI-MP. URL: https://financedigest.com/corporate-leadership-understanding-your-own-biashtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1359616190-1736815638539-compressed.jpg) ![Cornelia Shipley Bearyman, MBA, PCC, ELI-MP,a strategist and leadership development expert, is founder & CEO of 3C Consulting](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/fd-20-450x338-1736815638432-compressed.jpg) _By_ **_Cornelia Shipley Bearyman,_** _MBA, PCC, ELI-MP,_ _a strategist and leadership development expert,_ _is founder & CEO of_ [_3C Consulting_](https://www.3cconsult.com/) Whether you manage a corporate office of strategic advisors, a team of banking, investment or accounting professionals, or an administrative or sales organization — how well _you_ lead will influence how well _your_ team and ultimately your company performs. With employee resignations and burnout at an all-time high, financial product and service companies are challenged with positioning themselves as a true employer of choice. Given that people don’t leave companies, they leave companies that tolerate bad managers and toxic work environments – [investing in your leadership team capabilities to effectively lead](https://www.financedigest.com/invest-in-infrastructure-to-escape-the-starvation-cycle-warns-leading-nonprofit-sector-strategist.html "Invest In Infrastructure To Escape The ‘Starvation Cycle’, Warns Leading Nonprofit Sector Strategist") cross-culturally and create environments of inclusion and belonging, must be a top priority. Recognizing that everyone (including you) has bias is the first step. Even if you are in a [workplace where the majority of employees](https://www.financedigest.com/norway-wealth-fund-employee-sues-for-workplace-gender-discrimination.html "Norway wealth fund employee sues for workplace gender discrimination") share the same demographics, diversity across your workforce still exists. That [means your managers](https://www.financedigest.com/senior-managers-regime-what-does-it-mean-for-the-industry.html "SENIOR MANAGERS REGIME – WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE INDUSTRY?"), supervisors, and department heads will be leading teams that likely hold divergent views and approaches to creating the innovative solutions necessary to win in the marketplace. Here are three questions (and answers) identifying ways bias can show up and [strategies for creating](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-create-a-pr-plan-and-link-it-to-your-business-marketing-strategy.html "How to create a PR plan and link it to your business marketing strategy") a more inclusive environment where even the most historically marginalized can thrive. 1. **What Story Do You Hold About People Who Are Different?** We understand life through story.When leaders are trained on bias, it is critical to discuss the childhood stories that were [told about people](https://www.financedigest.com/people-dont-like-to-be-told-no-when-it-comes-to-finance.html "People don’t like to be told no when it comes to finance") who were “different” from them. Examining those stories help [leaders begin](https://www.financedigest.com/european-p2p-leader-twino-expands-to-central-asia-and-begins-listing-kazakhstan-loans.html "European P2P leader TWINO expands to Central Asia and begins listing Kazakhstan loans") to see the origins of their bias and the bias of others. They also help [explain](https://www.financedigest.com/explainer-whats-on-the-agenda-at-the-u-n-s-cop15-nature-summit.html "Explainer-What’s on the agenda at the U.N.’s COP15 nature summit?") some of the “natural” preferences based on age, race, nationality, and veteran status, as well as perceptions of communities like the LGBTQ+ and the other abled. Too often, these “preferences” influence how we [communicate and lead](https://www.financedigest.com/mando-part-of-the-leading-global-wpp-communications-group-launches-the-universal-card.html "Mando, part of the leading global WPP communications group, launches the ‘Universal Card’"). What can you do to shift your story? Challenge the assumptions you make based on your childhood stories and determine if they are accurate based on what you know today. Increase your exposure to those with diverse experiences, adjust your [perspective and begin to focus](https://www.financedigest.com/the-change-perspective-uks-financial-institutions-shift-focus-to-revenue-growth-in-2019.html "The Change Perspective: UK’s financial institutions shift focus to revenue growth in 2019") on the individual instead of the story you have in your head about them. 2. **What Workstyle Preference Do You Have?** Everyone has a way they like to [work from peak productivity](https://www.financedigest.com/smart-working-versus-presenteeism-enabling-productivity-in-a-post-pandemic-hybrid-work-culture.html "Smart Working Versus Presenteeism: Enabling Productivity in a Post-Pandemic Hybrid Work Culture") hours to frequency of email, text, or calls, to in-person or virtual meetings, and more. As a result, everyone is inherently biased to their own preferences. For example, if you are available 24/7, you may expect your team to do the same. Failure to do so might be reflected in performance evaluations and promotions (your [bias in action)](https://www.financedigest.com/activision-beats-shareholder-class-action-over-sex-bias-claims-for-now.html "Activision beats shareholder class action over sex bias claims, for now"). Conduct an audit of [pay and promotion to see](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-employers-see-slight-fall-in-pay-awards-over-2023-xperthr.html "UK employers see slight fall in pay awards over 2023 – XpertHR") how bias may be affecting performance ratings and salary increases. Take actions necessary to correct the inequities. Additionally, review cultural [standards](https://www.financedigest.com/beijing-meets-state-air-quality-standards-for-first-time-in-2021.html "Beijing meets state air quality standards for first time in 2021") like timeliness, wardrobe, text messages/email/DMs, use of slang and emojis and determine what is appropriate today and incorporate the expectations of historically excluded communities. Are your workplace communications inclusive in nature or do they prevent you from recruiting and retaining talent based on [evolving](https://www.financedigest.com/the-evolving-world-of-work-what-next-for-employers.html "The Evolving World Of Work – What Next For Employers?") employee expectations? If not, adjust accordingly. 3. **How Do You View Change?** Leaders are most comfortable doing things the [way they have always done things which is why change and transformation isn’t easy and can get in the way of creativity and innovation](https://www.financedigest.com/four-innovative-ways-to-pay-for-products-online.html "Four Innovative Ways to Pay for Products Online"). The [status quo](https://www.financedigest.com/pelosi-praises-taiwan-says-asian-trip-wasnt-to-change-status-quo.html "Pelosi praises Taiwan, says Asian trip wasn’t to change status quo") prevents the full lift possible with diverse and inclusive teams. Practice curiosity, step out of your comfort zone, and lead from a place of not knowing vs. already knowing. Reward those who [foster curiosity and cultivate innovation](https://www.financedigest.com/financial-services-tech-tools-to-foster-innovation.html "Financial Services: tech tools to foster innovation") in your workplace. [Invest in training and support to unlock the innate confidence and capability of your entire healthcare](https://www.financedigest.com/agnellis-exor-eyes-further-healthcare-investment-for-expansion.html "Agnellis’ Exor eyes further healthcare investment for expansion") or medical business organization. Corporate leaders, department supervisors, and any level manager with direct reports must seek out innovative [ways to best leverage the power of their company values](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-maximise-the-value-of-instant-payments.html "5 ways to maximise the value of instant payments"), processes, and culture to create accelerated growth for the entire employee population and the bottom line. The time is now! **_About The Author:_** _Cornelia Shipley Bearyman, MBA, PCC, ELI-MP,_ _a strategist and leadership development expert,_ _is founder & CEO of_ [_3C Consulting_](https://www.3cconsult.com/) _,_ _a boutique consulting firm specializing in_ _the retention and advancement of mission critical talent. The [firm works across multiple industries including the full spectrum of the](https://www.financedigest.com/top-north-east-financial-adviser-firm-talks-corporation-tax.html "Top North East financial adviser firm talks corporation tax")_ _financial industry (banking, technology and and investment companies)._ _By using_ _a designed approach to development that is aligned to the desired outcomes and objectives of the organization, 3C [Consulting strengthens leadership teams](https://www.financedigest.com/hcss-education-bolsters-consultant-team-with-education-expertise.html "HCSS Education bolsters consultant team with education expertise") through the three C’s of clarity, capability and capacity and unlocks the innate leadership potential and knowledge of the organization to create and take designed action that will ultimately lead them to their desired outcomes. Reach out to Cornelia Shipley Bearyman on_ _LinkedIn_ _._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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