Exploring Bias, with Chaya Mistry

Wikipedia defines bias as “disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing, usually in a way that is closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair.” In this episode, fellow communication coach Chaya Mistry and I explore this important topic and how it affects our ability to lead, communicate and build human connections. Contrary to what many people might think, bias is not just about race or gender. It relates to any human attribute such a person’s height, fitness, clothing, pronunciation, writing skills and even the car he or she drives. Within milliseconds of being exposed to someone, the brain decides if this is someone we can trust, like or relate to. Most of the time we are not even aware of it. This is a huge barrier to effective communication as it prevents us from seeing people as they really are. In our conversation, Chaya explains where bias comes from and explores ways to manage our filters to create a richer relationship with the world around us. Visit the show notes for more information: https://www.meetingstrategist.org/chaya-mistry To learn more about Chaya’s work, go to https://www.humanlyconsulting.com This conversation is closely linked to my previous episode with Kwame Christian on ‘How to Talk About Race’, which you can listen to here.