Reducing Bias in Leadership Selection: How Technology Promotes Fair and Equitable Assessments
Imagine a great leader not getting hired or promoted because of unconscious bias. A very familiar story that not only impacts the individual but also hampers the organization. Today, when every organization is focussing on creating a more diverse and inclusive environment, reducing bias in leadership assessment has become important. And, now, technology-based leadership assessment tools are re-imagining the process — more fair, unbiased, and merit-focused-true potential.
In this article, we will be talking about how these tools can help in bias reduction and unbiased and impartial evaluation, as well as what it means to reimagine leadership to make the organization achieve a more diverse and inclusive one.
The Problem of Bias in Leadership Selection
For years, biases of all types, whether conscious or not, have shaped the way leaders have been chosen and promoted. It could be gender, race, age, or whatever. These unconscious beliefs were interfering with otherwise sound judgments — and doing so by stealth. When they were exposed, it was difficult to see how to deal with them. And for the most part, those making the decision thought they had offered impartiality to the decision-making process.
How Leadership Assessment Tools Help Minimize Bias
So, how do you make sure your next class of leadership candidates has as little bias as possible? It’s actually quite easy. Use the right technology. Leadership assessment tools were built with the ability to evaluate candidates accurately, without bias. They provide meaningful, data-driven insight that can be hard to identify in an interview, helping organizations truly understand who the candidates are that they’re funneling into their leadership pipeline.
Reducing Unconscious Bias with Technology
Unconscious bias is a big problem when finding your leaders. Bias is totally happening without us even realizing it, without any conscious intent or cognition, based on stereotypes or past experience. Using leadership assessment tools can reduce unconscious bias by having all candidates measured against the same skills in the same way.
Technology can also be used to create simulations, putting candidates into virtual environments where they can demonstrate leadership in real time. This means there’s less opportunity for a face-to-face bias. You are viewing the real candidates and how they interact with a leadership situation, such as conflict, leading a team, or making a strategic decision. This gives the employer a much richer and fuller picture of a candidate’s overall leadership ability.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion Through Fair Assessments
Not only do leadership assessment tools help with bias, but they can also do a lot to help the overall diversity and inclusion of your organization. By using tools to evaluate leadership based on relevant, measurable qualities, you can ensure that you are giving everyone the same opportunity, no matter their background.
When this selection process is fair, your employees are happier and feel more valued and included, which can improve company culture and create an environment where a diverse group of employees can thrive. Additionally, a leadership team with diverse points of view can result in better decisions and innovative solutions.
