Page 24 - Seniorstoday September 21
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Life Lessons
Say bye to bias
The negative effect of bias is incalculable and has an infinite perpetuation
impact on those at the receiving end, writes Nagesh Alai
The other day, in a WhatsApp group that I One of the most extant attributes in
belong to, someone queried about training human behaviour is bias. Simply put,
programmes for ‘unconscious bias’ at the bias means a tendency or inclination or S Kumar
workplace. Some recommended training feeling or opinion that is preconceived or
modules adopted by overseas ivy league unreasoned. It is a damaging behavioural
institutions while some talked about pattern cutting across our existence
specialist trainers. On querying the querist whether it is to do with our employment,
and getting an answer, I suggested that it is vocation, business, families, friends, race,
best to avoid theorists and look for known caste, community or even transborder state
people who have traversed the distance and and country relationships. The negative
come across various types of biases. After effect of bias is incalculable and has an
all, personal experience makes for the best infinite perpetuation impact on those at the
tutors. The point is training has had mixed receiving end. The class-caste-community-
results given the entrenched nature of bias religion-country clash and divide that we
and can only hold a mirror for us whereas see all over is nothing but active biases
inward realisation and transformation can cleaving minds and hearts.
do so much more to mitigate and eradicate I am no authority on bias nor a practitioner
bias. of behavioural studies. But what we
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