Overcome subtle bias with self-esteem

Overt and blatant bias can be addressed, however hard it might be, through the law and corporate policy. What is almost impossible to address is the subtle bias that is not overt and yet only the person experiencing it knows it is there.

Once you have attempted to address the subtle bias in an assertive manner and it is still there. then this can impact your relationships, interactions and performance. This is not good and too heavy a price to pay for someone else's ignorance. There is another option. That option is to create a healthy self-esteem for yourself and now you will look at the same situation differently.

With a healthy self-esteem \, you will feel good about your overall self, warts and all. You will accept yourself as you are, and you will stay engaged in the process of learning and development. You will interpret the subtle bias differently. You will see the subtle bias as reflecting the other person and his/her values.

It does not reflect on who you are. You will feel good about your behaviors and underlying values driving the behaviors. You will have successfully addressed not the subtle bias but the negative impact on you.

And with continued display of these assertive behaviors in response to the subtle bias, you can over time influence change in the other person. The key is to develop a healthy self-esteem and leverage the power of that self-esteem in creating your worldview.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Eleanor Roosevelt

Amir Bhimji

Schaumburg