This lesson helps learners recognize microaggressions, understand their impact, and respond effectively while maintaining respect and safety for all participants.
Recognizing and Responding to Microaggressions
This lesson helps learners recognize microaggressions, understand their impact, and respond effectively while maintaining respect and safety for all participants.
What you learn:
- Apply policies to realistic scenarios
- Develop communication and intervention skills
- Receive feedback to improve performance
- Adapt approaches for industry contexts
Description:
Industry-specific simulations help you apply policies and communication skills in realistic contexts. You will participate in role-plays, receive feedback, and refine responses for different stakeholders, including employees, managers, customers, and partners.
What Are Microaggressions?
Microaggressions are brief, often unintentional, comments or actions that convey disrespect or bias toward a person’s identity. They accumulate and impact psychological safety over time.
Impact and Context
Even well-meaning remarks can reinforce stereotypes or exclude teammates. Understanding context helps us respond thoughtfully rather than defensively.
Response Options
Use calm, direct language to acknowledge the impact. Offer a clarifying question, set a boundary, or share how to adjust language in the future.
Bystander Approach
- Observe the situation and assess safety.
- Name what happened in a respectful way.
- Provide support or redirect to inclusive language.
Activity Prompts
- Identify a microaggression you’ve witnessed. How could you respond constructively?
- Practice a brief, respectful correction you could use in a group setting.
- Draft a mini-guide for teammates on avoiding microaggressions in daily work.