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Addressing a Microaggression in the Moment

Use a short immediate phrase ("pause — let's go back to that point") instead of silence now or a delayed confrontation after the meeting.

20 min Advanced

Goal

Gain the skill of immediate (not delayed) intervention when a microaggression (a passing comment carrying bias) occurs in a meeting, in a way that protects the affected person without unnecessary escalation or humiliating public exposure.

Steps

1

Prepare in advance (before the situation occurs) a short, neutral, ready phrase: "let's pause on that phrase for a moment" — having it ready prevents freezing in the moment.

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Expected Outcome

Immediate

The affected person sees you noticed and acted immediately, not stayed silent then apologized to them privately afterward only.

Evidence base

School: Inclusive Leadership / Microaggression Research

Founders: Derald Wing Sue · Ella Washington (2010)

Derald Wing Sue documented the "microaggressions" concept in "Microaggressions in Everyday Life" (2010), and Ella Washington developed immediate-intervention techniques for organizational leadership (Harvard Business Review, including "Interrupting Bias in the Moment").

Frequently asked questions

How long does "Addressing a Microaggression in the Moment" take?

This exercise takes about 20 minutes, practiced in a group in a Behavioral format.

When will I notice the effect of "Addressing a Microaggression in the Moment"?

The affected person sees you noticed and acted immediately, not stayed silent then apologized to them privately afterward only. In the short term: Within weeks, biased comments in meetings recur less, because everyone knows they'll be addressed immediately, not ignored.

Is "Addressing a Microaggression in the Moment" evidence-based?

Yes — it draws on Inclusive Leadership / Microaggression Research (Derald Wing Sue, Ella Washington (2010)). Derald Wing Sue documented the "microaggressions" concept in "Microaggressions in Everyday Life" (2010), and Ella Washington developed immediate-intervention techniques for organizational leadership (Harvard Business Review, including "Interrupting Bias in the Moment").

Is "Addressing a Microaggression in the Moment" suitable for beginners?

Its difficulty level is: Advanced. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

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