Stereotyping & Labeling

We all stereotype people, whether we like it or not. We do it so quickly too. In a split second, we form assumptions and we often do it unconsciously. We might assume that... older people are less tech-savvy women are more emotional Gen Z'ers want to get promoted right away people with a Harvard degree are rich the guy coming to work in a hoodie doesn't take his job seriously And the list goes on... Stereotyping people is a way for our brain to organize information and to speed up judgment so we can quickly assess if we're safe or not. It used to be a survival strategy. But in today's world, stereotyping is less useful. And if we do it without noticing, stereotyping can quickly affect our actions and opinions in a pre-judgmental and biased way. And that will most certainly get in the way of us creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment at work and may even create toxic situations. In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, I am shedding some light on the negative impact of stereotyping and labeling in the workplace, how you can catch yourself doing it and how to get rid of it. Reflection Questions: What have you personally been stereotyped for? What labels are you putting on yourself? What stereotypes do you have about your team? What labels are put on them, or are they putting on themselves? — RESOURCES MENTIONED — Maya Angelou Quote:“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” Harvard Business Study by Professor Katherine Coffman:Stereotypes and Belief Updating - 2021 Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Access the course and resources here: ramonashaw.com/11 Have a question or topic you'd like Ramona to address on a future episode? Fill out this form to submit it for her review: https://ramonashaw.com/ama — OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE — Episode 81: How to Overcome Your Brain’s Fixation on Bad Things Episode 76: Is It Me or Is It Them? Episode 13: Unconscious Biases in The Workplace – An Interview — WHAT’S NEXT? — Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling new book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: ramonashaw.com/masterclass Don't forget to invest time each week to increase your self-awareness, celebrate your wins, and learn from your mistakes. Your career grows only to the extent that you grow. Grab your Career Journal with leadership exercises and weekly reflections here: ramonashaw.com/shop Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show! * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you. — CHAPTERS — 00:00 Preview 01:11 What is workplace stereotyping? 06:26 Harvard Business School Study 10:18 Reducing effects of biases and stereotypes 14:20 Labelling is believing 17:52 Four Reflection Questions 19:53 Recap * Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.