As you strive to create an effective workplace culture, set your sights on the power of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training for your employees. Through regular workplace DEI training sessions, you can create a highly supportive environment where all your employees can grow and thrive. Your approach to finding, presenting, and reinforcing the training makes all the difference in how well it works, however. So, be sure to follow these steps to get the most from your smart investment in workplace DEI training.
Select a High-Quality DEI Training Program
Your journey to a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace starts with the DEI training program selection process. Start by looking for a training program with a history of excellence and the ability to achieve proven results.
Other things to look for include:
- Use of an evidence-based approach to promoting learning across all knowledge levels
- Presentation of the workplace DEI training materials by true subject matter experts
- A variety of general and specialized training options, including quick-start programs
On top of all that, your selected organization should offer flexible DEI training options that will work for your workplace on an ongoing basis.
Choose the Best Format for Your Team
The way you present the training matters greatly in how well your employees learn the practical skills presented throughout the program. So, reflect on all your employees’ learning styles, schedules, and preferences to find the perfect format for your team.
If your team works remotely more often than not, for example, then you’ll want to go with virtual training instead of in-person sessions. Teams with a preference for face-to-face training, on the other hand, can benefit from going to class together.
Don’t forget to think about whether a 90-minute class would be enough to promote DEI in your workplace. Or if your team would benefit more from a more intensive half-day learning experience.
Make It Easy for Employees to Participate
Your employees cannot focus on participating in workplace DEI training if you don’t make room for them to do so. They need time off to attend the training without worry about their competing personal and professional responsibilities. That way, your team can really zero in on the lessons at hand, and then have time to absorb the information presented to them.
So, do all you can to open up their schedule for the training and even give them time afterward to collaborate on practical applications. If needed, close up shop for a couple of days to get everyone on the same page when it comes to DEI. Although that might initially hurt your bottom line, the benefits of DEI training will allow your team to come back stronger than ever and ready to collaborate on achieving the company goals.
Offer Incentives for Attending Workplace DEI Training
Sometimes, time off is not enough to truly encourage your employees to attend diversity, equity, and inclusion training sessions. Personal factors may hold them back from taking that first step, so you need to sweeten the deal a bit to make the opportunity more appealing.
To do that, use smart training incentives, like:
- Company swag
- Gift cards
- Electronics
- Office décor
- Cash bonuses
You could even hand out tickets to VIP nights where your team can come together to enjoy tasty food and drinks, have fun, and win raffle prizes.
Go Over Participation in Performance Reviews
Incentives go a long way in promoting participation in DEI training programs. But it’s not the only way to encourage your employees to focus on their professional growth. You can also add training program participation as a metric in your employees’ annual performance reviews.
When employees know that their ability to advance their careers ties back to training, they’re much more likely to attend all the sessions offered to them. Their participation allows them to build new professional skills, after all, so it’s an easy way for them to show growth in their role at your company.
Revisit Workplace DEI Training Annually
Diversity, equity, and inclusion training reaches deep into the psyche to unwind existing ideas and present a new way forward. Oftentimes, unconscious bias gets in the way, resulting in the need to keep the conversation about DEI going well into the future.
Thankfully, you can do that quite easily by making DEI training an annual affair. Simply put the training program on your schedule for the same time each year to keep your employees learning about creating a more inclusive and collaborative workplace.
Collect Feedback on the DEI Training Experience
Despite your best efforts, the DEI training experience may not work perfectly well for everyone. So, reflect on how to make continual improvements by collecting feedback from your employees. Then, work on resolving their complaints as needed to ensure the training process goes smoothly for everyone.
Ready to Elevate with Workplace DEI Training Solutions?
If you’re ready to elevate your workplace with DEI training solutions, get in touch with our team at Elevated Diversity. With a call to 800-392-2107, you can easily get started in bringing workplace DEI training to your company. We’re happy to help you find the right level of training, set up the sessions, and then get your employees learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion together. So, please feel free to give us a call whenever you’d like to get started.
