Diversity Training: 7 Essential Topics for Diversity Training
The Facts
Q&A
The diversity training topics are subjects and concepts that are included, utilized, and explained in a diversity training program. These varied subjects aim to ensure that the diverse employees that are present in the team can acknowledge and overcome the differences that exist between them.
Diversity training is the series of structured learning processes and practices that are implemented in a workplace so that the employees can learn to realize the differences among themselves based on their social background, education, and other such factors. The training process guides them on how they can acknowledge these differences, embrace diversity, and encourage the viewpoint and involvement of each employee, irrespective of their social position or background.
Diversity and inclusion have become critical issues that organizations need to address. Not only 57% of employees have reported that they believe their company should be more diverse, but practices that encourage diversity among the employees have proven to enhance the team's productivity as well.
However, having a diverse team does not automatically ensure that the company will gain a varied perspective on problems and more effective solutions. Along with diversity, the workplace should employ inclusion in their teams as well. Inclusion is the process through which people from different backgrounds are made to feel welcome in the workplace environment. Through inclusion, individuals are valued and respected such that they engage with the team actively and feel safe to share their thoughts.
Why is Diversity Training Important?
Diversity training at workplaces is essential to make sure that people can realize the unconscious bias that they might have. Through well-developed training, the concept of cultural competency can be brought forward so that the employees can better accommodate each other.
Here are some of the benefits that one can observe among their employees by providing an inclusive and successful diversity training program.
- Raises awareness
Not everyone in the organization might be aware of the meaning and problems that are included in diversity and inclusion. Along with that, people may face some issues while exercising inclusion in a workplace environment.
With a tailored diversity training program, the employees can understand the importance and impact of diversity at workplaces. The training will also help normalize the concept and encourage discussions among the employees so that they can reassess the current situation and find the issues that exist in the current workplace situation.
- Safe space
When people begin to understand what the current system lacks concerning diversity and inclusion at workplaces, they will make efforts to overcome the limitations. The training guides them on how the employees can create a safe space for each other so that everyone can share their opinion feeling safe and valued.
The diversity training program can educate the employees regarding sensitive topics so that they can understand their peers better and create a strong bond with the employees in their team. The training also encourages employees who had a poor experience of diversity and inclusion at the workplace and ensures that their opinions are valued.
- Encourages the Bottom-Line
With a safer environment, the training can potentially increase employee engagement and develop trust among the employees towards the organizations. Thus, the training program benefits the company by increasing the productivity of the employees.
Also, with different perspectives through which a problem can be handled, there will be more room for innovation and a better decision-making process. These aspects boost the bottom line of the organization.
Essential Topics to be Included in Diversity Training
Though each organization will find that they need different aspects to be included in their diversity training, some topics must be incorporated in the training outline. These topics are essential to understand the basic concept of diversity, inclusion, social differences, and how it affects the workplace environment.
- Generational Diversity
Generational diversity refers to the age difference between the employees. At any workplace, there can be people belonging to three generations working at different posts. These three generations, that is, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z, have immense differences in their communication methods, viewpoints, and processes to handle any problem.
The training can help the employees understand that instead of stereotyping the generation, they can better understand each other's perspectives.
- Diversity and Inclusion
Employees may understand the meaning of diversity in the workplace. However, they may be unable to understand the difference between diversity and inclusion. The employees may accept their peers with different backgrounds, but they might not make them feel included. Feeling involved in the team is the basic idea of inclusion.
The training can guide them through the methods they can adapt to the differences and boost the performance of the team.
- Intentional Inclusion
Intentional inclusion is the process through which such plans are formulated that can induce positive changes. Through modules, sessions, and handouts, the concept of inclusion can be explained. However, the employees need to have a practical approach through which they can take the required steps to make their peers feel included.
Through the topic of intentional inclusion, the employees can understand what they need to do to make progress and make the environment more inclusive.
- Racism
The diversity training aims to tackle sensitive topics so that all the employees are well-informed and educated. Companies can inculcate a supportive workforce where different opinions, experiences, and perspectives are valued.
The training program need not include the adverse effects of racism. It should tackle the topic on a positive note to instill the idea that the workplace has no space for racism.
- Stereotypes
A stereotype is a fixed thought about a particular group of people. People may judge others based on the stereotypes that have been established in their minds. Stereotypes in a work environment can hinder the workflow as they generate conflicts and negative situations.
Diversity training can bring forward such stereotypes and train the employees regarding the methods they can follow to cope with such situations.
- LGBTQIA+
People may know the meaning of the acronym; however, they may not be aware of the problems faced by belonging to the community to gain equal rights at workplaces.
The diversity training program can present this sensitive topic such that the employees can understand the difference in life choices and forms of expression.
- Unconscious bias
One of the most common diversity training topics is unconscious bias. It is included in most programs because it cannot be recognized by assessing the workplace from the surface most of the time.
Unconscious bias includes ideas that someone who dresses well, looks a certain way, or has a certain education is better or safer than those who do not. Such bias can hinder the growth of inclusion in workplaces the most.
Diversity training should be developed such that it addresses the issues that are observed in a particular workplace. However, some topics that generally exist in society need to be mentioned through the program to ensure that all the employees have the same definition and understanding of these concepts.