Communication and Intrinsic Bias

The process of communication is very important to us as law enforcement officers. What we say is important, but how we say it is more important. E-based communication is devoid of emotion and there is no room for implied meaning. Written words stand alone, unless you use emojis. It is through the use of body language, tone, and expression that communication comes to life. Awareness of non-verbal communication (our own and others) will require a little work that will pay large dividends down the road. We will also be looking at intrinsic bias—how bias influences our lives, how to develop strategies to be aware of our hidden bias and a framework for us to apply in not only our professional but personal life to identify when negative bias may be providing influence. We will look at what intrinsic bias is (both the positive and negative side of it), how it influences the decision-making process, and how EQ (specifically empathy) helps us identify our bias and gain an understanding of those we work with and serve.