How can you eliminate biases and stereotypes in team facilitation?

1 Identify your own biases and stereotypes

The first step to eliminate biases and stereotypes in team facilitation is to recognize and acknowledge your own. We all have them, whether we are aware of them or not. They may stem from our upbringing, education, culture, media, or personal experiences. To identify your own biases and stereotypes, you can use self-reflection, feedback, or tools such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT) or the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Once you identify them, you can challenge them by seeking alternative perspectives, evidence, or information that contradicts or expands your views.

2 Create a safe and inclusive space

The second step to eliminate biases and stereotypes in team facilitation is to create a safe and inclusive space for your team members. This means setting clear and respectful ground rules, norms, and expectations for the team interaction. It also means ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate, contribute, and be heard. You can use techniques such as icebreakers, check-ins, active listening, paraphrasing, summarizing, or polling to create rapport, trust, and engagement among team members. You can also use positive reinforcement, appreciation, or recognition to acknowledge and value the diversity and strengths of your team.

3 Address biases and stereotypes openly and constructively

The third step to eliminate biases and stereotypes in team facilitation is to address them openly and constructively when they arise. Sometimes, team members may express or act on biases or stereotypes intentionally or unintentionally, which can harm the team climate, cohesion, or performance. As a team facilitator, you have a responsibility to intervene and facilitate a dialogue that allows the team to explore, understand, and resolve the issue. You can use strategies such as asking open-ended questions, providing feedback, reframing, or redirecting to challenge or correct biases or stereotypes in a respectful and supportive way. You can also use stories, examples, or data to illustrate or counter biases or stereotypes.

4 Encourage diversity and intercultural learning

The fourth step to eliminate biases and stereotypes in team facilitation is to encourage diversity and intercultural learning among your team members. Diversity is not only about the visible or obvious differences among people, but also about the invisible or subtle ones, such as values, beliefs, preferences, or styles. Intercultural learning is the process of developing awareness, knowledge, skills, and attitudes to communicate and interact effectively and appropriately with people from different cultures. You can foster diversity and intercultural learning by designing activities, tasks, or projects that require team members to share, compare, or collaborate across their differences. You can also use tools, frameworks, or models, such as the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) or the Intercultural Sensitivity (ICS) to help team members assess and improve their intercultural competence.

5 Seek continuous improvement and feedback

The fifth step to eliminate biases and stereotypes in team facilitation is to seek continuous improvement and feedback. Biases and stereotypes are not static or fixed, but dynamic and evolving. They can change over time, depending on the context, situation, or interaction. As a team facilitator, you need to constantly monitor and evaluate your own and your team's biases and stereotypes, and seek ways to eliminate or reduce them. You can use tools, such as surveys, interviews, or focus groups, to collect feedback from your team members, clients, or stakeholders on how they perceive and experience your team facilitation. You can also use self-assessment, reflection, or coaching to identify your strengths and areas for improvement as a team facilitator.

6 Learn from best practices and resources

The sixth step to eliminate biases and stereotypes in team facilitation is to learn from best practices and resources. There are many sources of information, guidance, or inspiration that can help you enhance your team facilitation skills and reduce your biases and stereotypes. You can read books, articles, blogs, or podcasts on topics such as diversity, inclusion, equity, or intercultural communication. You can also join online or offline communities, networks, or groups of team facilitators who share their experiences, challenges, or tips. You can also attend workshops, courses, or webinars that offer training, certification, or accreditation on team facilitation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?