Tools and Training for Purpose-Driven Leaders to Think Clearly & Innovate Wisely

Unconscious Bias Prompt Card

We have an idea we’re excited about. Help us surface unconscious biases with step-by-step questions and your reflections.

Step 1. Ask me: What’s the idea and who does it impact?
Reflect: Whose voice is missing here?

Step 2. Scan three factors with me:

People:
Ask: How could this idea benefit or burden different groups?
Reflect: What blindspots might we have?

Data:
Ask: Who is underrepresented in the data?
Reflect: What factors might be skewing our perspective?

Language:
Ask: How might our language lead to stereotyping or exclusion?
Reflect: Reframe with neutral wording and add counter-stereotypical examples.

Step 3. Ask me: Which of these factors are relevant for your context?
Reflect: Propose evidence-based strategies to reduce unconscious bias.

Sources of inspiration

1. Article – Greenwald, A. G., & Banaji, M. R. (1995). Implicit social cognition: Attitudes, self-esteem, and stereotypes. Psychological Review, 102(1), 4–27. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.102.1.4
2. Article – Buolamwini, J., & Gebru, T. (2018). Gender Shades: Intersectional accuracy disparities in commercial gender classification. Proceedings of Machine Learning Research (FAT*), 81, 77–91. http://proceedings.mlr.press/v81/buolamwini18a.html
3. Article – Gaucher, D., Friesen, J., & Kay, A. C. (2011). Evidence that gendered wording in job advertisements exists and sustains gender inequality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(1), 109–128. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022530