PMO | Questions to Ask to Avoid Trapped in Group Bias

After identifying people with common interests or attributes, people form a group or circle for comfortable interactions. Within the group, we trust, help, and share information. Outsiders are typically excluded, which causes the problem of missing opportunities, such as creative thinking.

To avoid group biases, we should start getting to know people by asking the following questions:

• Do I belong to the group the person is in?
• What are their interests and background?
• How can I become part of their inner circle?

Before tackling difficult problems, it's crucial to establish a connection with the person we're dealing with and become a part of their "we". We can accomplish this by learning about their background, including where they grew up, what language they speak, their hobbies and interests, what motivates them, their career objectives, the subjects they enjoy working on, and their past accomplishments. By obtaining this information and establishing a connection or belonging, we can be more effective in addressing their challenges. We need to be ally first.