Introduction:
Blinded by the Light of Our Bias
Chapter One
If You are Human, You are Biased
Chapter Two
Thinking about Thinking
Chapter Three
The Many Faces of Bias
Chapter Four
Life, Death and Unconscious Bias on a Rainy Night
Chapter Six
Like Water for the Fish: Networks of Bias in Everyday Life
Chapter Seven
Shifting to Neutral: How We Can Learn to Disengage from Bias
Chapter Eight
Incubators of Consciousness: Creating More Conscious
Organizations
Conclusion:
A Brave New World, A Grand New Journey
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Endnotes
Howard J. Ross is founder and chief learning officer of Cook Ross Inc., a diversity consulting company. He is one of the nation's leading diversity consultants and a nationally recognized expert on diversity, leadership, and organizational change.
Founder of a diversity consulting company, Ross examines how
to identify and overcome unconscious biases in everyday
life. He takes up much more than discrimination based on race,
gender, national origin, and other protected categories. The
author delves into perceptions of Democrats and Republicans
toward presidential candidates, patient income with respect to
health care, shapes of objects relative to the shapes of objects
around them, the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin criminal case, and
homosexuality. Ross lists a wide variety of biases—such as the
tendency to anchor on one trait to make decisions and the
inclination to make conclusions about a person based on first
impressions—and draws on numerous research studies to support his
conclusions. He also points to ways to overcome both personal
and organizational bias. The former includes accepting uncertainty
in life, exploring awkwardness and uncomfortable feelings, and
getting feedback from others; the latter, finding patterns of
privilege or exclusion of employees, brainstorming, listening to
dissenting opinions, and analyzing the quality of information
obtained. . . .Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division
undergraduates through faculty; professionals; general readers.
*CHOICE*
The author explores the many biases that we each carry within us.
Most people do not see themselves as biased towards people of
different races or different genders. And yet, in virtually every
area of modern life, disparities remain. Breakthroughs in the
cognitive and neurosciences give some idea why our results seem
inconsistent with our intentions. Bias is natural to the human
mind, a survival mechanism that is fundamental to our identity.
And, overwhelmingly, it is unconscious. Incorporating anecdotes
from today’s headlines alongside case studies from over 30 years as
a nationally prominent diversity consultant, Ross helps readers
understand how unconscious bias impacts our day-to-day lives and
particularly our daily work lives. He also provides examples of
behaviors that the reader can engage in to disengage the impact of
their own biases.
*Journal of Consumer Policy*
Howard Ross, a diversity expert, consultant, and founder of
Cook-Ross, Inc., writes an in-depth look into the human mind and
explores the known and unknown biases that constantly shape our
thoughts and actions. . . .I believe this text would be helpful for
business students and those who are currently in the workforce. . .
.[This book] could be a valuable addition for those interested in
the topic of bias and how it is manifested.
*The Christian Librarian*
getAbstract recommends Ross's insights to human resource
professionals, managers and leaders dealing with a diverse
workforce, and to anyone seeking to learn, grow and evolve.
*getAbstract*
We are certain we are 'one' person, not a thousand different selves
reacting unconsciously to thousands of different stimuli. Everyday
Bias is an important guide to seeing oneself the way others
might.
*Ken Burns, filmmaker*
Howard Ross has done it again! Another gem that promises and
delivers validated and practical methods for understanding our own
biases. Everyday Bias explores those areas of bias that we all have
and how it has meaningful, often negative impact for businesses,
schools and society in general. For the casual interested reader or
the chief diversity officer of an organization this book stands out
as an invaluable guide to recognizing one’s own biases and how to
effectively interrupt our usual patterns of thinking and behavior.
Moreover, it offers fresh thinking through vivid examples of
promising practices to disrupt unconscious bias by organizations
and corporations. Howard is the unique writer that can blend
evidence based data, rigorous analytical research and invaluable
personal knowledge to ensure every reader finds a new and important
insight.
*Marc A. Nivet, Chief Diversity Officer, Association of American
Medical Colleges, Inc.*
The real genius of Everyday Bias is that it allows all of us to
better understand bias without the guilt that often prevents us
from addressing it. . . . Howard’s P.A.U.S.E. model is a
groundbreaking shift in how to reconcile bias in an empowering way
that will create stronger organizations and nations, better
equipped to leverage the strength of difference.
*Steve Pemberton, Chief Diversity Officer, Walgreens and Author of
A Chance in the World*
Howard Ross has thoroughly researched and clearly explained how and
why we human beings engage in unconscious judgments. Most
importantly, he helps us see how we can find a way not to act on
our unconscious biases about people who are different from us. I
learned an enormous amount from this book. Read it and you will
too! Written by a consummate professional in diversity and
inclusion consultancy, this book reinforces my belief that we human
beings have the capacity to discover a new and effective way
to acknowledge our differences and to move toward a day when our
differences do not make any more difference.
*Johnnetta Betsch Cole, President Emerita of Spelman College and
Bennett College for Women*
For decades leaders have been challenged with how to effectively
build and tap in to the full power of diversity and inclusion. By
learning to accept the human tendency towards “bias,” Howard
Ross provides a solution for the reader to more effectively design
and lead his or her organization towards greater human engagement
and powerful organizational results. Leaders of all types
will benefit from these questions, methods and techniques to foster
engaged, innovative and powerfully productive teams.
*Tony Byers, PhD, Corporate Chief Diversity Officer*
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