Turns out… we’re all riddled with biases. Newsflash! While we secretly wish that wasn’t the case and/or that we were somehow above it, we’re not. And for the cynics amongst us, allow me a moment to prove it to you. Imagine a scenario for me… you’re interviewing candidates for a critical role within your organization. During polite conversation the candidate says…
- “… and I love country music.” Without hesitation, your brainmouse deducts 30 IQ points. Nothing personal, but ignorant people like country music. Did any of the last 100 Nobel Prize winners love country music? Nope.
- “… and I love classical music.” Your brainmouse adds 30 IQ points. Only smart people enjoy classical music. Classical music goes with good cheese, great wine, and fine art. Like duh.
- “… and I love jazz.” Your brainmouse is confused but secretly thinks the candidate is pretty damn cool. After all, only cool people get jazz. You know… the game within the game within the game of music. Musicians playing instruments with no sheet music. How effin cool is that?
- “… and I love hip hop.” Your brainmouse scans the race of the candidate. If the candidate is African American (or close), then the selection makes sense. If the candidate is anything other than that, then your brainmouse automatically thinks the candidate is wannabe. No one likes wannabes.
- “… and I love opera.” Your brainmouse is even more confused than if the candidate would have liked jazz. Let’s face it… opera is only for rich white people. Damn, come to think of it, not sure our comp strategy will work for this candidate. Double turds.
- “… and I love alternative music.” Your brainmouse snickers a bit. Like college music? They still make that? Grow up, loser. Let.it.go.
- “… and I love classic rock.” Your brainmouse notes… no way this dude gets the job BUT might be
a good source for Purple Kush in the future. File this in the good sources are hard to find folder.
Funny but true… everyone has a brainmouse that makes decisions for them. No way around it and anyone that proclaims to have no biases is 100% full of shit. Nothing personal.
IMO, when it comes to biases, you have two options: (1) act as if you’re somehow super human and thusly have no biases, or (2) own your biases.
No logical and/or rational case for option 1. Furthermore, if you really think option 1 is viable… do me a personal favor and never interact with me. Nuff said. As for option 2, this path is all about the relationship between understanding and fear. For the consultants among us, think of fear and understanding as a 2 x 2 grid. Draw that out on a napkin at lunch… you know, trying to get to the top right corner where “no fear” meets “has understanding.” I digress.
Now, let’s explore the music example from earlier… if you snickered while reading any of the seven examples, then you are biased. Truth hurts. To overcome this particular bias, reach out to people you admire who love different music than you do and ask them for education (read: why do you like this?). Translation: open yourself up to new things sans judgment. Truth is… it might not change the fact that you like to listen to Morrissey when you are sad, BUT at the very least you’ll know when you’re judging a candidate unfairly. And, you’ll take the power away from your inner brainmouse.
I know, I know. By now, you’ve figured out that I’m using “music bias” as a metaphor for all of our secret biases.
IMO, understanding is easy… you admit you have a problem… seek help, take meds, etc. Rinse and repeat for all your biases. Admitting your fears is not as easy, especially, when they are deeply embedded in things like race, gender, class, identity, religious preference, sexual preference, etc. No easy answer or solution… but it all starts with admitting that you have a problem. And by the way, admit it to yourself first then work on it. Over time and, more importantly, when you are comfortable discussing it with others – then do so. You will slowly eradicate your house of most biases. In some ways, you should become comfortable with your biases, not ignore and/or be ashamed of them.
Note to self: when hunting biases… no magic bullets exist. And, again, we’re ALL plagued with biases… so take some comfort in that.
WJT -
one of best posts I’ve read this year, and I read a lot of posts. Don’t judge me on that, Billy…
KD
Have to say that the title caught my eye.
Good post. Really good post.
Q: what’s the music of a privileged white woman living in the suburbs of Raleigh/Durham?
A: NPR
Dude, what a post.
I only clicked through to see the blunt, but got so much more. I think you effectively called out everybody (in the US at least) with those scenarios.
Loved it man – thanks!
I had tears running down my face—-funny—true….great post!
coming from the site that has no black people as regular contributors…
funny but true
ha
Love the post. Maybe it’s all about matching of bias. Maybe that is what “culture fit” is all about. Laughed all the way through the read.
WJT -
great stuff! So my additional query is, do you now also listen to the wiggles and Nick, with the biases (both ways) that come with that?
Shannon
Good post. Ok, so we’re all biased, myself included. When it comes to making a hiring decision, do you rely solely (100%) on your gut/intuition (after all, “we’re all biased”?
Homophily is like gravity… it is everywhere, pulling on us. The best athletes train to overcome gravity and the best performing individuals, teams, and organizations train to overcome homophilic biases.
But like any systems thinking, we benefit most by developing the ability to see, think, and function independent of it and strive to do it continuously…which is very hard work.
WJT
Interesting post, and sadly dead on. I did laugh all the way throught the whole thing. Call it bias, prejudice whatever, we all have. One should learn what thier own prejudices are and then deal with them as best as you can.
“I don’t like country music, but I don’t mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means ‘put down.’”
– Bob Newhart
I enjoyed this and it has me thinking about what a preference for music styles can tell us – how might it give you insight into a person beyond the bias? It may be a good challenge to try to give the most positive spin to the audience of the music you find most unfavorable.
And, yes, people who like jazz are not only cool, but mentally quick – able to follow the twists and turns, comfortable and welcoming of change, and appreciative of innovation in sound.
Very interesting observation. You left out Hard Rock! What is the profile on 45+ year olds who live to hear hard rock.
@ KD – No judgment.
@ Crystal – Glad you liked.
@ AC – Most people didn’t even know that was a blunt. For those wanting to kill some time… YouTube “how to roll a blunt” for some edutainment.
@ MT – Thanks, we aim to please.
@ Benjamin – Didn’t notice… have you applied to be a FOT contributor?
@ Sandra – Could be… depends if you are trying to get “like minds” or “diverse minds” together. Interesting.
@ Shannon – Dunno. I’m a Yo Gabba Gabba guy. In fact, my favorite Roots song is http://youtu.be/-mLtdHQeIZA – great song and video.
@ Mike – A delicate balance between art and science. 100% art = not good. 100% science = not good. IMO, the really good hiring folks know how to dance that delicate dance between the two (ahem, poles).
@ James – Well put. Thanks for commenting man.
@ Dave – Understand and own it…
@ Rich – “Hi, I’m Larry; this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl.” Thanks for the comment.
@ Jeff – Good call… thanks for the note. Jazz makes my head hurt… so says the guy that listens to Drake, Wale & Waka Flocka. What do I know!
@ CD – Kurt Cobain once said “If it’s illegal to rock and roll, throw my ass in jail!” Then again, he killed himself. Let me think more about the hard rockers.
What if someone likes Nickelback?
I would assume they’re an Instagram power user…
Ex 1 – http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/12b7fee3ee/look-at-this-instagram-nickelback-parody
Funniest video I’ve seen in weeks. I shared it with my Twitter followers. “Now look at this garden gnome/ I’m friggin’ Michelangelo.”