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Professional Skills: Navigating Bias

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Professional Skills: Navigating Bias

This course is part of multiple programs.

Instructor: Tyler Galarneau

Included with

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

3 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

3 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Implement strategies to maintain individual accountability in group settings.
Normalize and encourage productive disagreement within teams.
Utilize the 'devil's advocate' technique to challenge assumptions and improve decision quality.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is available as part of

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be asked to select a specific program.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

Recognize, reduce, and respond to bias in group decision-making. This self-paced course equips professionals with strategies to foster accountability and encourage productive disagreement in any setting.

Bias often goes unnoticed but has profound effects on collaboration and decision-making. In Avoiding Bias, led by Dr. Elissa Adame of ASU’s Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, you’ll gain practical tools to identify and reduce cognitive biases, particularly in group settings. The course emphasizes real-world application through interactive content, infographics, and reflection activities. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how to foster inclusive discussions, promote diverse perspectives, and strengthen group outcomes through structured accountability and intentional disagreement.

Module details

This module delves into the critical aspect of individual accountability within group decision-making. You will explore the underlying causes of accountability gaps and discover practical resources and strategies to foster a culture where each team member takes ownership of their contributions. By understanding how to build total group agreement and practice solutions for maintaining individual accountability, you will be better equipped to create more effective and responsible teams.

What's included

1 assignment7 plugins

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Quiz: Maintaining individual accountability10 minutes

7 pluginsTotal 45 minutes

Maintaining individual accountability: Cause and resources5 minutes
Maintaining individual accountability: Building total group agreement4 minutes
Practice the solution: Maintaining individual accountability10 minutes
Job aid: Creating unbiased and adaptable group decision-making processes3 minutes
Reflect on the solution: Maintaining individual accountability10 minutes
Accountable individuals make accountable groups: Key takeaways3 minutes
Apply the solution: Maintaining individual accountability10 minutes

In this module, you will learn the importance of normalizing disagreement as a constructive force in group decision-making. We will examine how to encourage productive disagreement, moving beyond mere conflict to leverage diverse perspectives for better outcomes. You will gain insights into the causes and resources for fostering healthy debate, practice techniques for encouraging productive disagreement, and understand how to apply these solutions to enhance team effectiveness.

What's included

1 assignment7 plugins

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Quiz: Normalizing disagreement10 minutes

7 pluginsTotal 45 minutes

Normalizing disagreement: Cause and resources5 minutes
Normalizing disagreement: Encouraging productive disagreement4 minutes
Practice the solution: Encouraging productive disagreement10 minutes
Job aid: Normalizing disagreement3 minutes
Reflect on the solution: Normalizing disagreements10 minutes
Disagreements make effective decisions: Key takeaways3 minutes
Apply the solution: Normalizing disagreement10 minutes

This module explores the strategic role of a 'devil's advocate' in challenging assumptions and preventing groupthink. You will learn how to effectively assign and utilize a devil's advocate to create productive disagreement and spark deeper discussions. By understanding the causes and resources behind this technique, practicing its application, and reflecting on its impact, you will be able to guarantee disagreement as a tool for more robust and well-considered group decisions.

What's included

1 assignment7 plugins

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Quiz: Assigning a devil's advocate10 minutes

7 pluginsTotal 44 minutes

Assigning a devil’s advocate: Cause and resources4 minutes
Assigning a devil’s advocate: Creating productive disagreement4 minutes
Practice the solution: The devil’s advocate at work10 minutes
Job aid: Incorporating a devil’s advocate3 minutes
Reflect on the solution: Assigning a devil’s advocate10 minutes
Guarantee disagreement to spark discussion: Key takeaways3 minutes
Apply the solution: Assigning a devil’s advocate10 minutes

This concluding module marks the successful culmination of your efforts in understanding and mitigating bias in group decision-making. It includes an end-of-course survey to gather your valuable feedback, which is crucial for continuous improvement.