Valuing Diversity: Expand Awareness, Train Your Team
One way to expand awareness and train your team is to provide ongoing training and education on diversity and inclusion. This can include workshops, webinars, seminars, and other forms of training that focus on topics such as:
Intersectionality: Understanding how different aspects of identity, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and class, intersect and affect individuals and groups.
Unconscious bias: Examining the ways in which unconscious biases can affect our perceptions and interactions with others.
Cultural competency: Developing the skills necessary to understand and respect different cultures and ways of life.
Inclusive language and communication: Highlighting the importance of using inclusive language and communication, and providing examples and tips for doing so.
Accessibility: Understanding the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in design, technology, and other areas.
Representation: Highlighting the importance of representation and visibility of underrepresented groups in media, entertainment, and other areas.
Learning outcomes from a diversity course may include:
Understanding the concept of diversity and its various dimensions, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and class.
Recognizing and challenging one's own biases and assumptions about diverse groups of people.
Developing cultural competence and the ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Gaining knowledge about the historical and societal factors that have contributed to discrimination and inequality.
Learning about the experiences and perspectives of marginalized groups and the impact of discrimination on their lives.
Developing the skills and strategies needed to create a more inclusive and equitable society.
Gaining knowledge and understanding of the different laws, policies, and practices that have been implemented to promote diversity and equity.
Understanding the business case for diversity, equity and inclusion and the impact on the bottom line.
Understanding the role of intersectionality in understanding and addressing diversity.
Gaining skills and knowledge to be an ally to marginalized groups and to work with colleagues to create a more inclusive workplace.
Pam Jackson, PhD, an organizational and individual behavioral economist based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and serving clients globally, designs and delivers corporate training and coaching for building high-performing teams, including topics such as diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging; communicating effectively; leadership at any level; and psychological safety. Contact her team to learn more and to book your training, which can be delivered online or in person.
