Companies that prioritize Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) experience better financial results, higher levels of innovation, and a more collaborative culture. A great way to begin this effort is through conducting employee surveys or focus groups.
Set DEI goals. For instance, perhaps increasing the number of women in leadership roles would be one such goal.
Diversity
Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) training can be an invaluable way to attract top talent and retain top performers. A DEI program can assist employees in overcoming unconscious bias while learning to effectively communicate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, DEI training teaches employees about the unique challenges people from diverse ages, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities and beliefs face within the workforce.
When providing Diversity & Equality training to employees, it is vital to tailor its content specifically to their needs – particularly new hires who may lack experience. Furthermore, engaging leadership is also crucial – this gives employees assurance that their leaders understand and value diversity initiatives in their team while encouraging more participation by employees themselves in leading DEI programs themselves.
DEI training programs that are most successful are ongoing rather than one-off events. Furthermore, experts in the field should lead the training to ensure it is effective rather than simply reflecting societal or workplace incidents. Furthermore, continuous education helps reduce unconscious bias among employees as they become more aware of issues that are impacting them in their workplace environment.
Training should consist of a range of learning methods, such as videos, role-playing, and group discussions, to enable employees to absorb the material in multiple ways and increase retention and recall. A collaborative learning platform could also be a good way to gather feedback on sensitive subjects as well as promote engagement between employees and management.
Finally, it is crucial that your DEI efforts are measured and monitored effectively. One effective method for doing so is through surveys asking employees about their values, experiences and beliefs; additional data points like demographic metrics and hiring practices could also provide useful insight.
Equity
DEI training programs aim to create an inclusive workplace by teaching employees how to support marginalized groups. This could involve setting up mentorship programs, offering workshops on inclusivity and equity or teaching employees how to recognize microaggressions or unconscious biases in others. A good program will also promote open dialogue while acknowledging differing points of views and providing tangible outcomes.
An inclusive work environment is critical to any organization’s success, regardless of industry. A diverse workforce helps attract and retain talent, reduce biases, drive innovation and enhance customer relations – as well as helping meet legal and ethical obligations. According to McKinsey research, companies that prioritize diversity outperform those that don’t.
Your company should establish an inclusive diversity and inclusion training program to make a real impact, providing an overview of issues as well as concrete suggestions on how best to approach them. Oftentimes this type of training comes alongside sensitivity awareness workshops which foster understanding and empathy between employees.
Effective DEI training programs focus on the fundamental causes of discrimination and oppression, such as anti-oppression and allyship training sessions that examine history of oppression while showing employees how privilege can be exploited to marginalize marginalized groups. Furthermore, such sessions teach employees how they can become active allies for marginalized communities by recognising and challenging oppressive language and behaviors used against marginalized communities.
A good training program should also cover intersectionality, or the concept that multiple marginalized identities co-exist simultaneously. By exploring this subject matter in training sessions, employees may gain a better understanding of individual experiences while encouraging empathy that fosters an inclusive workplace environment.
Importantly, DEI training should not be approached as a one-off event but as a continual commitment. A successful program should have a well-designed curriculum with measurable learning goals and outcomes as well as resources for further study. Furthermore, training must be tailored specifically to your organization – for instance a small company may only require basic awareness training while larger organizations might need more comprehensive allyship and inclusion training programs.
Inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion training is crucial to creating an environment in the workplace where all employees feel they belong. This training helps employees understand and appreciate differences among them, promotes better teamwork and communication between colleagues, promote creativity and innovation and support an improved sense of wellbeing; ultimately leading to increased productivity and profitability. To make the most out of such DEI programs, companies should set measurable goals that focus on areas needing improvement such as eliminating bias as well as tracking progress against those goals.
DEI training programs can cover many topics tailored to an organization’s specific needs, depending on which stereotypes form involuntarily and microaggressions occur. One common component is to address unconscious bias (stereotypes that develop without awareness) and educate employees about microaggressions; also focus on intersectionality to demonstrate how gender, race and age intersect with one another; using inclusive language while recognizing barriers such as accommodations or accessibility issues can all be covered within DEI programs.
DEI training can also focus on how to be an ally and advocate for marginalized groups, teaching employees how to be active listeners while emphasizing the value of diverse viewpoints in decision-making processes. Furthermore, leadership positions may learn how to foster an environment which welcomes such viewpoints.
DEI training is vitally important for all employees, but especially for those in leadership positions. Leaders have tremendous power to impact others at work and have an outsized influence over company culture; furthermore, leadership positions tend to have lower diversity levels so it’s especially crucial that they participate in DEI training.
To maximize the potential of DEI training, select a program with an extensive curriculum and multiple modules, providing multiple learning formats such as online/in-person courses/webinars. Furthermore, look for one with experience developing and delivering training specifically designed to address business owners/managers/HR professionals needs.
eCornell
Cornell University provides a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program which trains employees on how to create an inclusive workplace. The course addresses all aspects of workplace diversity, from discrimination against minorities and those with marginalized identities, through unconscious biases and stereotypes within oneself as well as colleagues; to exploring behaviors which promote equity.
This program is offered online and typically lasts around two months to complete. Courses are delivered in two-week cohorts, meeting online at set times each week; time commitment typically ranges between three and five hours per week for participants who collaborate in small groups with learners from around the world and engage in diverse learning activities.
This certificate program aims to assist organizations in creating an inclusive culture and increasing employee engagement. The curriculum features both a foundational course that introduces key concepts and frameworks related to workplace inclusion, as well as four advanced modules. All six modules must be completed successfully for students to earn the certificate from ILR WIDE faculty and staff who will guide learners through creating more diverse and inclusive work environments.
eCornell offers an array of learning experiences for its participants, ranging from professional development seminars and book discussion series to podcasts. Furthermore, speaker series and webinars on diversity and inclusion topics are hosted. Ultimately, its goal is equip students with skills needed to make an immediate difference in their workplaces.
HANYS is offering scholarships to the eCornell Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program. To be considered for this scholarship, complete the application form. If not eligible for scholarship consideration, register for the course anyway at a discounted rate – it’s an invaluable way to advance your career while expanding your network of peers; plus it will equip you with knowledge and tools necessary for becoming an effective leader within your organization, by helping create diverse teams through more effective discussions with teams.