Why is diversity important for a business?

According to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, diverse teams achieve more efficient results and better reflect a diverse global customer base. Building a diverse team is not just the right thing to do; it is also good for business.

What is an anti-bias strategy?

An anti-bias strategy involves training staff to recognize and combat unconscious bias, coupled with leadership actions to create a more inclusive and diverse workplace. It aims to embed fairness into company processes and culture.

What can leaders do to reduce unconscious bias?

To reduce unconscious bias, leaders should set objective standards for hiring and performance reviews, maintain awareness of their own biases, and empower every employee to call out bias when they see it.

What is the goal of unconscious bias training?

The goal of unconscious bias training is to help employees understand how bias can affect them and to provide tools to correct and interrupt bias whenever it occurs in the workplace.

How to Implement an Anti-Bias Strategy in the Workplace

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The Business Case for Workplace Diversity

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg has emphasized that a diverse workforce is a foundational pillar for the company’s mission. The core idea is that to effectively serve a diverse global user base, the company creating the products must be equally diverse.

"We need to have people with different points of view, genders, races and backgrounds for reflecting the diversity of the 1.4 billion people who are using our products," Sandberg stated.

This is not only the right thing to do but also a direct driver of business results. According to Sandberg, diverse teams produce more efficient outcomes, making the case for diversity a strategic business imperative, not just an HR initiative.

A Framework for an Anti-Bias Strategy

To build a more inclusive and diverse organization, Facebook developed a formal strategy to combat and recognize unconscious bias. The approach focuses on providing staff with awareness and tools while expecting leaders to model inclusive behaviors. This initiative was developed in partnership with top researchers to ensure it was evidence-based and effective.

1. Training to Recognize and Interrupt Bias

Facebook created a training course designed to help employees understand how unconscious bias can affect them and their decisions. More importantly, the training provides tools to help staff correct for and interrupt bias whenever they encounter it in the workplace. The content includes slides, videos, and contributions from senior leaders on the subject.

2. Leadership Accountability in Reducing Bias

Training alone is insufficient. Leaders must actively work to reduce bias in organizational processes. A senior Facebook employee outlined several key actions for leaders:

Set Objective Standards: Establish clear, objective criteria in advance for hiring and performance evaluations to prevent shifting standards or "gut feelings" from influencing decisions.
Cultivate Self-Awareness: Leaders must be conscious of their own potential biases and how they might manifest.
Empower Employees: Foster a culture where every employee feels empowered to call out bias without fear of retribution. Leaders should solicit input actively and apologize if they make a mistake, modeling humility and accountability.

By managing bias through training and leadership accountability, organizations can become more diverse, build stronger companies, and drive more efficient business results. '''

Best Practice Institute

Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

The Workplace Report

The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg Shares Anti-bias Strategy