Unconscious Bias Through Strategic Questioning: A Strategy for Building Equity Internally and Externally

Strategic questioning is a technique that awakens possibilities for enhanced communication.  This process is an exciting tool that generates personal and social change.  Asking a question that leads to a strategy for action is a powerful contribution to resolving challenges or opposing points of view. As a practice, strategic questioning builds the skill of asking the types of questions that release blocks to ideas while facilitating new ideas towards future change. People who engage strategic questioning find that not only may challenges be resolved, but also new visions for the future can emerge. Strategies for action are more likely to be developed. During this session we will briefly review unconscious bias and “try on” the use of strategic questioning to engender more thoughtful and heartfelt conversations. Often, what is revealed lends itself to more interesting alternatives and possibilities through transformative reflection and subsequent action.

Shakti Butler, PhD, filmmaker and Founder & Creative Director of World Trust, is a dynamic educator in the field of racial equity. Dr. Butler engages her audience with participatory keynotes and seminars, often using clips from her films. She is frequently hired by organizations seeking a catalyst for change.