Through the RCCS, we strive to become more aware of our judgments and bias. Becoming more aware requires us to give others permission to have sensitive conversations with us and give us respectful feedback. To increase more awareness of your own unconscious bias towards diverse people, explore thefrom Harvard University.

In this month’s RCCS Tidbit we are reminded that we can practice curiosity to counteract our biases and judgments. Curiosity gives us more information and more information fills the information gap and decreases the tendency for us to fill the gap in with misinformation and assumptions.

A judgment is an evaluation of one person by another, consciously or unconsciously. Judgments are frequently made without adequate information and are charged positive/negative, good/bad, right/wrong. Judgments may be communicated with words, tone of voice, behaviors, and looks.

Sometimes we are even judgmental of ourselves. We worry about what others think of us if they know our faults or the parts of ourselves that we are less proud of. And yet, we all make judgments. That’s what humans do.

One thing we can practice that can counteract our unconscious judgments is to practice curiosity. Being curious counteracts uninformed assumptions of others. Here are some suggestions:

1. Ask “W” questions: what, why, where, when, who

2. Practice Stop, Breathe, Think. Taking a pause before responding or acting can increase our awareness and mindfulness.

3. Practice open-ended questions or responses like:

   1. Can you describe that more?

   2. Help me understand what you mean.

   3. When you say that, what are you thinking?

   4. What were the primary reasons that motivated you to make that choice?

Review the video and respond to these open-ended questions:

1. What about this video stood out for you?

2. What surprised you?

3. What messages did you take from the video?

4. Did you find yourself feeling judgmental, and why?