Overcoming negation bias involves being mindful of language to avoid communicating stereotypes. Here are some actionable steps to overcome negation bias in recruitment:

Awareness: Recognising how negations can reinforce stereotypes is a crucial first step in overcoming negation bias. When interviewers understand its impact, they become more mindful with their words during interviews.

Language choice: Opt for positive language instead of negations when asking questions or describing people. For example, saying a candidate is “smart” has a more positive meaning than saying that the candidate is “not dumb.”

Conduct the interview together: Self-reflection on language use during interviews can be challenging. Therefore, having two interviewers can help in reflecting on the use of negations in interviews.

Standardise interview questions: Use standardised interview questions to structure the interview process, ensuring that each candidate is assessed using the same criteria. This reduces the influence of biases. Learn here more about setting up a structured interview.