Question

How do you avoid stereotyping in the workplace?

Do you use the same or different techniques with vendors and/or customers (people you deal with regularly but perhaps not daily)?

Answer 1

Answer

• Always respect, recognize and appreciate others’ differences inspiteof making assumptions and labelling people.
• Lay down transparent and rational criteria in advance for decisions regarding recruitment, promotion, appraisal, etc. so as to avoid biased decision-making process.
• Analyse the criteria and hold decision makers accountable (including yourself) and think if it unintentionally screens out particular competitive and good candidates for selection or promotion.
• A confidential investigation should be conducted to find out actual situation of each and every step of employment process.
• Training programs should be conducted for spreading a sense of leadership and self awareness.
• Job rotation may be adopted as a technique if it suits the nature of business, which helps in breaking ice between people from different business processes and departments.
• Recognition must be given to the employees with outstanding performance; this will help to bridge the gap between top level management and employees.
• An opportunity should be provided to employees to give their valuable suggestions before taking business decisions by the management. This act of top management will give a sense of belongingness and importance. They will feel that managers also listen to their point of view on business decisions.
• Reward must be given to the employees who strengthen diversity in work culture by engaging themselves with affinity groups.
• The system should be transparent about the progress against targets.
• Remind yourself frequently to be rational and fair at all the times.

Definitely avoiding stereotyping should not be restricted to employees and employers rather it should be extended to vendors and customers (people you deal with regularly but perhaps not daily).

Some of the techniques may be applied on these parties also like Always respect, recognize and appreciate others’ differences inspiteof making assumptions and labelling people. While some are not like techniques regarding training, hiring, promotion, etc.

The best technique specifically for customers as a first step is that the business should be honest about its practices and recognize the importance of all the stakeholders of the business ignoring any preconceived notions.