Bias Interrupted: Creating Inclusion for Real and for Good

by Joan C. Williams

Companies spend billions of dollars annually on diversity efforts, with remarkably few results. Too often diversity efforts rest on the assumption that all that's needed is an earnest conversation about privilege. That's not enough. To truly make progress with diversity, equity and inclusion, we must focus less on documenting the problem and more on just stopping the transmission of it.

In Bias Interrupted, Joan C. Williams shows how it's done, and reassuringly, how easy it is to get started. Leaders just need to use standard business systems and standard business tools—data and metrics—to interrupt the bias that is constantly transmitted through formal systems like performance appraisals and the informal systems that control access to opportunities, like mentoring programs. The book presents fresh evidence based on Williams's research and work with companies, in that interrupting bias helps every group—including white men.

Comprehensive, though compact and straightforward, Bias Interrupted delivers real, practical value in as efficient and accessible manner as possible to an audience that has never needed it more. It's possible to interrupt bias. Here's where you start.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Leadership, Business

224 pages, Hardcover

Published November 2, 2021

About the author

Professor Joan C. Williams is Distinguished Professor of Law, 1066 Foundation Chair, founding Director of the Center for WorkLife Law at University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and Co-Director of the Project on Attorney Retention (PAR).

Reviews

[Terence Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good - albeit frustratingly limited - book. The central thesis is that we all have biases, and that it's impossible to control our automatic reaction provoked by those biases. Therefore, we should look to interrupt those biases. Deliberately act to prevent those biases from influencing your - and your company's - behaviours. The book is about the professional classes in the US - architects, engineers, lawyers. It is especially relevant for people working in larger organisations staffed by university-educated professionals.

It's a remarkably practical and focused book. It sets out clear stages for we can do as individuals, as CEOs, and as HR professionals. It also contains a lot of data - and it uses it expertly. Many people feel that "diversity" is a fluffy and nebulous topic - the book puts that to rest. It is relentlessly focussed on proving its case - very handy for engineering culture which demands evidence.

But it is short. That's good for the busy executive on the go - but it feels like it's only giving an overview of what to do. There are practical steps - but easy to miss and they almost feel like an afterthought to some chapters.

It's also exclusively American, with no thought for what's happening outside their borders. I found some of the recommendations and examples somewhat unrelatable - especially as one constant example is American Football, which was just baffling to me. There was nothing about the role Trade Unions might play in tackling bias.

Unfortunately, at times it does feel like a sales pitch for the author's courses. With constant exhaltations to visit their website and download their courses and whitepapers.

If you can look past those limitation, and are prepared to adapt the examples to a UK context, it's a great resource for tackling systemic issues.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. The book is available to buy now.

[Steve Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Stevo’s Novel Ideas, I am a long-time book reviewer, member of the media, an Influencer, and a content provider. I received this book as a free review copy from either the publisher, a publicist, or the author, and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it.

This book was Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 11/14, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet and Stevo's Novel Ideas. "Bias Interrupted" is a cutting-edge, relentless, objective approach to inclusion. I always heard that bias is part of our unconscious psychological wiring and there isn't much we can do to change it. Professor Williams teaches us how to recognize it and outlines ways the workplace can respond: by changing the ways we hire, assign work, evaluate performance, and make promotions. This is an outstanding contribution to the literature on workplace DEI.

Find more Business Books of the Week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more reviewed and recommended books and products by searching for me on Google.

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get frustrated by these books that talk about the issue all day long but really don’t get to the brass tax - established companies don’t want to change. Minor changes are a great start, as is the educating groups on how to become more self aware of their actions; but when you’re swimming against the current, it is a constant battle. And I’m not saying the battle isn’t worth it! But this book is yet another (albeit well researched; probably the best researched book I’ve read on this topic from a data standpoint) voice of the mass that these CEOs of issue are never going to listen to. They still make DEI teams to assuage the masses, but will they ever truly take the steps to create a “culture” that buzzes with the experiences, talents, or voices that are not derivative of their own?

She hit the nail on the head early on by saying that the issue is systemic and therefore the systems need to be rebuilt. What I would have liked is, rather than focusing on how to fix the current wrongs, to focus on how to build better and review how those fundamental differences support the change we strive for.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone interested in making the workplace more meritocratic and improving diversity in your team and organization should read this book!

The book does a fantastic job of explaining different types of common bias in the workplace. The book illustrates how it is easy to overlook or be unaware of these biases, which can add up to create inferior workplace experiences and career trajectories, especially for people in underrepresented groups.

The book also provides actionable steps that companies, managers, and teams can implement to reduce bias. The author backs up the content with significant amount of research and real life examples.

I've done a lot of research in this area, and this is one of my favorite books for improving diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a companion to this book, I recommend "Actions Speak Louder" by Deanna Singh for a more comprehensive overview of DEI at work, in addition to the deeper dive into bias from this book. When we know better, we can do better.

[Jason Frasca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, a highly relevant, highly recommended read. I learned a lot about DEI issues and concerns in the business world, many of which apply to my daily work.

The author does a great job breaking into evidence-based data and discussions on the origins of bias, descriptions and examples of common biases, and actionable ways to overcome them.

Other concepts that I enjoyed and learned from include;
-focusing on potential vs. productivity
-activation vs. application
-the concept of halos vs. horns in the workplace
-the significance of focusing on style and skill separately when evaluating employees
-discussion of what it means to be "friend relevant" vs. "work relevant"
-the analogy of comparing employees to jazz vs. classical musicians
-the concept of sponsorship vs. .mentorship

I highly recommend it, especially for those working to understand better and counteract bias in all its manifestations.

[Ieva Br. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strongly recommended! If you chose to read only one book on DEI topics, it has to be this one.
There are one or two chapters that are a bit overloaded with too many facts, research and examples, but overall - very well balanced, well written, and have loads of good practical tips for people in various roles.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book and it is very informative and contains lots of statistics and factual information. I think that this book can really help companies to understand why inclusion can help their workplace to be more productive and it can help them to identify problem areas.

[Chrystopher’s Archive · Rating 3 out of 5]

A LOT of information crammed into this little book, although some of it was slightly repetitive.

Highly recommended for anyone in a corporate environment, although some of that side of things went a little over my head. There were a few immediately actionable tips applicable to any workplace.

[Laurel Kristick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readable and very relevant., with lots of research-based information. Would recommend for managers and those interested in improving inclusion in their workplace.

Won this in a Goodreads Giveaway and am grateful to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this.

[Mary Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Read for a work development program. Interesting stuff, although it’s primarily for managers/high-level employees, which seems about right that people with power have to make changes for decreasing bias to actually work.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical guide to bias in the workplace and how to "interrupt it." Also explains how removing bias helps make a fairer workplace for everyone. I especially recommend for managers and leaders, but I think everyone can find good advice here.

[OjoAusana · Rating 3 out of 5]

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* not a bad read, has some good points, would be a 3.5 tbh, would reread