Last updated on Jul 6, 2024

Here's how you can employ logical reasoning to recognize and tackle biases in conference organization.

Organizing a conference is a complex task that requires meticulous planning and an objective approach. Biases, whether conscious or unconscious, can skew the decision-making process, leading to a less diverse and inclusive event. By employing logical reasoning, you can identify these biases and take steps to mitigate their impact. This process ensures that every aspect of the conference, from speaker selection to panel topics, represents a balanced perspective that benefits all attendees.

1 Uncover Biases

To tackle biases in conference organization, start by uncovering them. Use logical reasoning to question every decision: Why was a particular speaker chosen? What topics are being covered, and are they diverse? Who is the target audience, and does the conference reflect their interests and needs? By critically analyzing these questions, you can identify patterns that may indicate bias, such as a lack of representation from certain groups or topics. Recognizing these patterns is the first step towards creating a more balanced and inclusive conference.

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Q Patton EdD

Professional Vocalist | Assistant Professor, Music Business & Artist Development | Consultant (JMGG, LLC)
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What is helpful here, is considering the type of bias you observe is at play—including your own. To this end, is there implicit bias (revealing an opportunity for change) or explicit bias (revealing a barrier to change) happening?

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2 Question Norms

Question the norms of your conference organization process. Are you following certain procedures because they are industry standards or because they are the most effective? Analyze whether these norms might perpetuate biases. For example, if you always source speakers from the same network, you might be excluding qualified individuals from different backgrounds. Logical reasoning helps you assess the validity of your norms and encourages you to consider alternative approaches that promote diversity and inclusivity.

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3 Diversify Inputs

Diversifying inputs is crucial for reducing bias in conference organization. Seek opinions from a wide range of stakeholders, including attendees, sponsors, and industry experts from various demographics. Logical reasoning comes into play when you critically evaluate the feedback received and integrate it into your planning process. This approach helps ensure that the conference content and structure are not only reflective of a single perspective but are enriched by multiple viewpoints.

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Christine Gallagher Schmitz

CEO, Schmitz Manufacturing Research & Technology, LLC (SMRT); Lecturer, University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innnovation Institute
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Empathy is wonderful but nothing beats first hand input. Diversity requires diverse perspectives and opinions. When putting together a planning committee, whenever possible, seek to build a team that is multi-age, multi-gender, multi-race, and multi-culture. If you can not find diverse team members, at least build a diverse advisory committee to look over your plans and make suggestions.

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4 Challenge Assumptions

Challenging assumptions is an integral part of logical reasoning. In conference organization, scrutinize the assumptions behind your choices. Are you assuming a certain speaker won't be well-received because of their background or area of expertise? Test these assumptions by comparing them against objective criteria such as past performance or audience interest. This method helps you make decisions based on facts rather than preconceived notions, leading to a more equitable conference setup.

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5 Implement Changes

After identifying areas where biases may exist, it's time to implement changes. Use logical reasoning to develop strategies that address these biases. For instance, if you've noticed an underrepresentation of certain groups among your speakers, actively seek out individuals from those groups for future events. Making deliberate, reasoned adjustments to your conference planning will help you foster a more inclusive atmosphere that is beneficial for all participants.

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6 Reflect and Adjust

Lastly, reflect on the conference after it's concluded and adjust accordingly for future events. Logical reasoning isn't just about pre-event planning; it's also about post-event analysis. Consider feedback from participants and review which aspects were successful and which could be improved. By continuously applying logical reasoning to this reflective process, you can ensure that each conference you organize is more unbiased and inclusive than the last.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Here's how you can employ logical reasoning to recognize and tackle biases in conference organization.

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2

3

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1 Uncover Biases

2 Question Norms

3 Diversify Inputs

4 Challenge Assumptions

5 Implement Changes

6 Reflect and Adjust

7 Here’s what else to consider

Conference Organization

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Here's how you can employ logical reasoning to recognize and tackle biases in conference organization.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Uncover Biases

2 Question Norms

3 Diversify Inputs

4 Challenge Assumptions

5 Implement Changes

6 Reflect and Adjust

7 Here’s what else to consider

Conference Organization

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