Micro-behaviours are those tiny gestures, that almost imperceptible tone of voice, the glance or body language, those ‘throw-away’ comments – that subtly affirm or reject. They create an insider/outsider dynamic in the workplace and make people feel included or excluded.
It might be greeting one person more warmly than another, or finding more or less time for them, interrupting a colleague in mid-sentence, taking credit for someone else’s work, rolling eyes in frustration, or repeatedly cancelling meetings. These are just a few examples of how what we do or don’t do can cumulatively build-up to create an environment that feels friendly to some but pervasively hostile to others.
These behaviours are often driven by our unconscious biases, and we all need to recognise that we can unwittingly display them, as well as receive them. We can also challenge them. By shifting our behaviour to consciously include we can help everyone feel as though they belong and are valued at work.
At Marshalls we have designed and developed products to practically support universities in raising awareness of micro-behaviours, and to create inclusive workplaces. We are proud to be an independent company with an established track record of working in partnership with HE institutions; always able to adapt our approach and priorities to meet the needs of the sector, and often collaborating directly with in-house e-learning developers.
On this topic specifically, we recently produced a new e-learning module which graphically draws attention to different types of micro-behaviour and explores the implications of varied responses. This immersive training follows the story of a team of professionals working together in a university context to build a new website. As the characters clash and deadlines loom, learners are asked to select from a range of options on how the team leader should respond. The success or failure of the project depends on the learners’ decisions.
‘Insiders and Outsiders -How our Micro-Behaviours Affect the Workplace’ (watch the trailer here) utilises branching videos and shows learners the consequences of subtle micro-behaviours for wellbeing, team working, creativity and productivity. An accompanying module ‘Managing Diverse Teams through Inclusive Leadership’ revisits the storyline of Insiders and Outsiders as a practical and reflective resource for managers.
At Marshalls we also design and facilitate workshops or Lunch & Learn sessions, and we know that topics of Micro-Behaviours, Conscious Inclusion, Allyship, Active Bystander and Inclusive Leadership are particularly popular with our HE clients.
About the author: Ann Allcock is Head of Diversity at Marshall E-Learning Consultancy. For more information you can contact Ann directly