Overcoming Bias: Building Authentic Relationships across Differences by Tiffany Jana. Tiffany holds an MBA and Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership from University of Phoenix.
This book addresses why bias matters today and the right terms can increase your fluency. Ultimately Tiffany’s goal is to move readers away from thinking about bias to understanding how to overcome it.
To her credit, Tiffany introduces bias on the most simple of subjects: bias favors one thing over another; bias is a normal human tendency; most bias in harmless; and it is difficult to acknowledge personal bias.
Perhaps a stronger element is how Tiffany is addressing bias passing from generation to generation. And she follows up by outlining those personal hot-button triggers. We all have them and unconscious assumptions about anyone different from our family or close circles. This will influence the best of good intentions.
Tiffany is indicating we need to focus energies on identifying our own privilege and preference. By becoming aware we can make authentic connections at work and at home.
Understand your base foundation
Jana and Matthew Freeman are a biracial couple. They certainly hold deep experiences. Even better is Jana’s early educational experience in Germany which leads to her multilingual capabilities which also include Spanish. There are certainly examples of bias that result with one’s limiting perspectives.
It will be refreshing to discover references to Beverly Daniel Tatum’s excellent work Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? addressing how children are forever impacted at a young age to bias.
Learn to engage the world
Their solution is to overcome your bias while interacting with people of different ages, sexual orientations, cultures, and socio-economic status. In fact, Tiffany is revealing that by improving your listening skills and asking questions (sometimes a lot of questions) you will understand empathy.
In conclusion, the best part and the most disappointing part are the same. Overcoming Bias is just 100 pages, provides for a quick insightful read. Yet, this should be double or perhaps triple in length.