I was recently invited to conduct an Unconscious Bias workshop in Katherine NT, Australia. My remit was to work with a group of health professionals to explore the ways our unconscious cultural programming provides us with a judgemental framework, and how this framework is the basis for all of our conscious actions and reactions.
We spent quite a lot of time discussing the idea of self-awareness as a key skill in being culturally competent. The basic idea is that before we focus on the motivators and behaviours of others, we need to understand, or at the very least be aware of, our own. This is a key concept of EQ - Emotional Intelligence, which I believe is at the core of intercultural competence and CQ - Cultural Intelligence.
Every element of our interactions with others in any context, is subject to the potential for unconscious bias and this can be exacerbated by behavioural traits, such as the way we behave when listening to others. Drawing from The Communications Book (M McKay) the workshop participants examined 12 blocks to listening, discussing their own ‘favourite’ behavioural impulses, and how these can distract us from paying full attention to others. For the record, my own particular bad habit is number 7 on the list: Identifying. This is when everything that someone says triggers my memories of a similar incident and, unrestrained, I launch into my own story, often preventing the other person from reaching the end of what they were saying!
For those wanting to explore their own blocks to listening, there’s a neat worksheet developed by TA-TUTOR.COM that briefly explains the 12 blockers. A five minute exercise at the beginning of a team meeting would be a productive way to raise everyone’s self-awareness in a context that requires purposeful interactions.
I believe that if we can be present when others are speaking, and actively practise listening, remaining aware of our behavioural blocks or response impulses, we’ll be a step closer to hearing what is really being communicated. We will be more aware of visual and audio cues beyond the words themselves, and in time will also become more attuned to our instinctive responses. Every interaction with another person is an opportunity for self-reflection, and reflective practice should be the aim for all professionals engaged in the care of others.