How to Be an Ally: Actions You Can Take for a Stronger, Happier Workplace

4

STEP 2: DO NO HARM—UNDERSTAND AND CORRECT OUR BIASES

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

—MAYA ANGELOU¹

We all harm people without intending to. People have been harmed throughout history due to historical oppression, systemic inequities, and cultural marginalization. Much of this harm continues today, and can surface through our individual words and actions—and our non-actions. As allies, we must learn the ways we might be harming people without realizing it, acknowledge the impact of this harm, and correct our actions.

Correcting Our Biases

Biases are mental patterns or shortcuts that influence our perception about something, someone, ...