Why Changing Hearts & Minds Doesn’t Work When Promoting DE&I Efforts, but Checklists Do
Summary
- Define tangible core competencies that define each job and the criteria hiring and performance are measured on
- Create a Portfolio Review “Cheat Sheet” that allows a team to review a candidate with an anti-bias approach
- Review examples of performance review and correct instances of bias
Key Insights
-
•
Initial DEI efforts focused on changing hearts and minds often lead to burnout without measurable impact.
-
•
Bias in hiring decisions can manifest as unequal standards for candidates based on race and gender.
-
•
Creating a set of 12 core competencies helped objectively define key skills across multiple design roles.
-
•
Focusing on action-oriented 'I can' competencies over subjective knowledge helped reduce bias.
-
•
Hiring cheat sheets tied to competencies guide interview panels and reduce individual bias.
-
•
Performance reviews are high-risk areas for bias due to confirmation bias and the halo/horn effect.
-
•
Requiring three pieces of evidence for each feedback item reduces unsubstantiated biased comments.
-
•
Managers auditing peer feedback enables identification and mitigation of bias during reviews.
-
•
Evidence-based performance review workshops empowered teams to discuss and call out bias openly.
-
•
Scaling equity efforts requires integrating objective criteria into organizational processes, not just discussions.
Notable Quotes
"We were literally doing the most and having no impact."
"When we focused on objective measurements, it really highlighted the inequity and moving the goalpost based on who it was applying."
"Scale is about doing less while having greater impact."
"We wanted to move from I know, which is subjective, to I can, which can be demonstrated."
"If a candidate meets the three non-negotiables, it’s a reason to move them forward no matter what."
"Performance reviews are petri dishes for bias, especially confirmation bias and halo/horn effects."
"Give three pieces of evidence for every piece of feedback you provide an individual."
"Managers need to audit the feedback their team receives, not just accept it at face value."
"We asked people to judge others’ feedback with an anti-bias lens instead of focusing on their own biases."
"Let the bird fly of hearts and minds. Don’t go chasing waterfalls; disrupt your organization with checklists."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"The community is an ongoing prototype; members have a strong, frequent voice in shaping what good looks like."
Marc Fonteijn Ru ButlerIncrease your confidence, influence, and impact (through a Professional Community)
December 3, 2024
"Tolerance to uncertainty is a big thing in climate tech compared to other fields."
Dem Gerolemou Alexis Oh Neef RehmanClimate technology fundamentals
May 15, 2024
"The faster the reaction, the less distorted it is by cognitive processes, capturing genuine gut feelings."
Daniela Magaña Flores Ariane Rahn Jeff Ephraim BanderAhead of Competition: Learn What UX Benchmarking Can Do for Your Business Today
March 10, 2022
"We focused on consolidating frameworks and landed on Canvas, which now supports 45 teams and growing."
Abbey Smalley Sylas SouzaScaling UX Past the Size of Your Team
January 8, 2024
"We immediately transitioned designers embedded on lower priority projects to higher priority ones."
Patrick CommarfordDesign Staffing for Impact
January 8, 2024
"The use of dovetail helps organize diverse information without losing the author’s voice or connection to original data."
Xenia Adjoubei Sean BruceEmpowering Communities Through the Researcher in Residence Program
March 29, 2023
"If going from no design system to a system, you should see an increase in product development efficiency by at least 25%."
Craig VillamorDesign Systems for Ethical Design
January 26, 2023
"We don’t need a north star, we need a constellation that allows us to see the full picture."
Jon Fukuda Ellie KryslDesign Planning and Management Support
October 3, 2023
"Business language is for communication. We use it to explain why user centricity matters to broader audiences."
Iain McMaster IHan ChengDesign and Product: from Frenemy to Harmony
November 29, 2023
