IMA India’s recent forums shed light on unconscious bias & inclusive leadership

Expert speakers highlighted the presence of unconscious bias in various forms, particularly in hierarchy, language, gender, and race.

Business and economic research firm IMA India recently conducted sessions on the India CEO, CFO, CHRO and CMO Forums where notable speakers explored the concept, prevalence  and impact of unconscious bias in daily life and at the workplace.

The subject expert speakers － Tharoor Associates Founder and thought leader Smita Tharoor, and Happiness@Work expert and life wisdom coach Sriram S－shed light on how unconscious bias exists in various forms, especially in areas such as hierarchy, language, gender, and race.

When discussing the effects of such bias in work settings, the speakers highlighted the challenges often faced by women in the workplace. Furthermore, they delved into how, despite efforts to become more inclusive, many workplaces continue to grapple with the unconscious tendency to form groups.

But while talking about the issues, Ms Tharoor and Mr Sriram’s discussions also encompassed constructive management strategies to effectively address and mitigate these biases. 

The speakers at the forums emphasized the need to address biased assessments at both organizational and individual levels. Practical measures were outlined, including running panel interviews with cross-department representation, creating standardized questions for all candidates, employing blind recruitment practices, and crafting inclusive job advertisements with AI tools.

The discussions concluded with a call for greater awareness of unconscious biases, recognising that acknowledging and understanding these biases is essential for personal growth and cultivating an inclusive mindset.

The contents of this paper are based on discussions of the India CEO, CFO, CHRO and CMO Forums in Chennai and Mumbai with Smita Tharoor, motivational keynote speaker and thought leader on unconscious bias; and Sriram S, award winning Happiness@Work expert, in January 2024. The views expressed may not be those of IMA India.

This paper is available on the Knowledge Centre of the IMA website. Additionally, a podcast version is available here and can be heard on the podcast platform of your choice