Stop Shutting Down Innovations From Your Team-Do This Instead
I still remember the meeting like it was yesterday.
One of my team members—bright, creative, and usually quiet—had been sitting on the edge of her seat all morning. Finally, she leaned in, eyes lit up, and shared an idea that made the room pause. It was different. Bold. Uncomfortable. Before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “I don’t think that’s going to work.”
The look on her face…It said everything.
We moved on. The agenda rolled forward. But hours later, sitting alone with my notes, I realized I hadn’t even given her idea a real chance. My gut reaction had nothing to do with the facts—it was because it felt unfamiliar. Risky. Outside of my usual way of doing things. And maybe I had a bias towards her as being “younger”.
That was my wake-up call.
Our brains love shortcuts. They keep us moving fast but sometimes at the cost of fairness and fresh thinking. These mental shortcuts—unconscious bias—sneak in so quietly, we don’t even notice. But your team does. And the unspoken message is loud: “Different isn’t welcome here.”
The problem? Innovation doesn’t survive in that environment. It quietly packs its bags and leaves.
Here are three short, simple facts about unconscious bias and why our brains have them:
They’re Mental Shortcuts – our brains are wired to process huge amounts of information quickly, so they take “shortcuts” based on patterns we’ve seen before.
They’re a Survival Mechanism – in early human history, quick judgments kept us safe from danger. If someone was not in our “tribe”, did not look like us, it meant danger. Today, that same wiring can misfire in modern settings like the workplace.
They Operate Automatically – bias happens without us realizing it—often in a split second—because our brains are trying to save time and energy.
I’ve learned that if you want to be an impactful leader—the kind people bring their real ideas to—you have to actively interrupt those shortcuts. Here’s how you can start doing that today:
1. Ask Before You Answer
Before responding to an idea, pause and ask yourself: “What’s influencing my decision right now?” Is it the data—or is it the person presenting it? Their age, role, communication style? This micro-pause is like hitting the brakes before you speed through a red light.
Start today: The next time someone shares an idea, wait five seconds before speaking. Use that time to listen deeply and check your initial reaction for bias.
2. Rotate the Voices in the Room
We all have “go-to” people we rely on, but if you’re not intentional, you’ll keep hearing the same perspectives. And innovation rarely comes from the echo chamber.
Start today: In your next meeting, ask for input from the quietest person in the room first. Or, switch up who leads discussions so different voices shape the conversation. This models equity and shows that everyone’s contribution matters.
3. Make “Why Not?” Your Default
It’s easy to default to “Here’s why this won’t work.” But leaders who unlock innovation flip the script: “Why not try?” This doesn’t mean saying yes to every idea—it means exploring it before you shut it down.
Start today: When a new idea is raised, list three possible ways it could work before you list reasons it can’t. You’ll be surprised how often solutions appear once the door stays open.
These aren’t complicated changes. But they do take awareness—and a willingness to catch yourself before those silent shortcuts take over. Do that, and you won’t just make better decisions—you’ll create a space where your team feels safe to bring you the ideas that could change everything.
Curious how to develop an unconscious bias awareness practice?
Sign up for our workshop Bias Unboxed: Seeing the Unseen to Lead With Clarity to get started on building your authentic leadership practice today with your team.