CASB Board Training

Foundational Bias Workshop with Bill de la Cruz

Foundational bias is about impacting self awareness and understanding while normalizing conversations on bias. The development of bias awareness systems requires people to talk about the issues that create barriers within organizations and communities. This focus provides workshop participants an opportunity to bring to the surface topics and concerns that negatively impact a belonging and inclusive culture.

Workshop participants will have the opportunity to build strategies and skills to transform through conflict. Discussions will center on conflict styles and connect conversations about personal bias to our models for working through conflict. 

Workshop learning outcomes will give participants the ability to:

• Understand and use Organizational Change Theory to develop a belonging and inclusive culture
• Create strategic outcomes for belonging and inclusion

Session 1: Foundational Bias

This session will focus on normalizing the bias conversation while building conversational skills to infuse a sustainable culture of belonging and inclusion for internal and external stakeholders. The ability to talk about issues of race class and bias involves skills such as deep listening and purposeful conversations. Participants will learn how to effectively communicate about race and bias in professional and personal relationships. 

At the end of this first session, participants will be able to:

• Define bias and the effects it has on interactions with others
• Have a skill base to communicate how biases impact relationships
• Develop daily practices focusing on bias awareness
• Understand the concept of intent and impact

Session 2: Conflict Management Practices

Research shows that leaders spend 15 to 20 percent of their time each week resolving conflicts that are not theirs. This session will enable participants to build strategies that empower them personally, as well as their board, in resolving conflicts at the lowest level, which is with each other.

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Define their personal conflict style and the impact it has on relationships
• Identify the various styles of conflict and understand each other’s personal conflict styles
• Establish strategies to manage conflict in personal and professional relationships
• Build organizational processes and protocols that support those on their board in order to resolve conflicts
• Acquire and use specific tactical methods in conflict situations and apply these to effectively manage two party and multi-party conflicts

Session 3: Bias 2.0: Deconstructing Bias and Strategic Planning

Implicit and explicit biases impact relationships on a daily basis. Participants will have the opportunity to examine bias within themselves and their environment as well as explore strategies to recognize and manage bias. The goal is to create a belonging and inclusive strategic plan for infusing equity and inclusion work into board work with one another.

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify biases and explore strategies to deconstruct bias
• Use personal and board daily practices that support a belonging and inclusive culture
• Implement systemic infusion as a strategy to build belonging and inclusive teams
• Apply organizational change research to facilitate change
• Create a sustainable belonging and inclusion strategic plan