Delivering Diversity Training in an Online Environment

There is no denying that the modern workplace has significantly changed over the last year. Much of the current workforce is working remotely. Many organizations also have plans to further embrace remote work by offering hybrid workplace environments where employees can alternate working remotely and in office environments in the future.

These changes have also caused the growth of global teams to expand. Both recent events in the United States and the growth of distributed teams have caused an increased need for diversity training programs. 73% of L&D professionals have reported that their executives have recently made diversity and inclusion programs a priority (1).

However, delivering diversity training effectively also looks different today than it has in the past. To help you better navigate delivering diversity training in an online environment, we have shared some of the top strategies you need to know for effective delivery.

Understanding The Different Types of Diversity Training

There are two main categories of diversity training. They are both equally important, but they each focus on different aspects needed to build an inclusive workplace.

There are courses that focus on building perspectives and understanding. There are also courses that focus on actionable skills related to diversity. It is essential to incorporate both types of sessions into your diversity and inclusion training programs.

Gaining a New Perspective

It is important to provide employee training that is designed to bring awareness to different diversity-related issues. These courses focus on topics such as cultural competency, unconscious bias, sexual harassment, and discrimination. These courses cover the foundational knowledge employees need to create more inclusive work environments both digitally and in a traditional office setting. These courses are effective preventative tools and play a critical role in promoting diversity in the workplace.

Skills Training

There are also courses that are designed specifically to help employees learn how to appropriately address diversity issues that may arise in the workplace. These courses should cover company-wide policies and procedures regarding each topic. They also help employees learn when and how to take action. These courses help promote a more positive and inclusive company culture by empowering learners to actively promote inclusion.

Effective Online Training Delivery Methods for Diversity and Inclusion

There are a wide variety of training delivery methods to choose from today. However, three different training modalities are highly effective in delivering quality learning experiences to remote learners. They have qualities that especially useful when it comes to diversity training programs.

Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT)

Virtual instructor-led courses are a highly effective training method for remote learners. Virtual instruction boosts employee engagement with discussion and activities. Instructors also play an important role in facilitating meaningful discussions around diversity topics and issues that can sometimes be difficult to talk about.

Scenario-Based Online Courses

Another way you can effectively deliver diversity and inclusion training to your remote workforce is through scenario-based learning simulations. These eLearning modules can be accessed from anywhere at any time employees have internet access. This added flexibility makes it easier for employees to fit training into their schedules. This is especially useful for enterprise organizations that have growing global teams in different time zones.

Scenario-based learning modules are powerful because they use life-like examples and allow employees to practice what they have learned. Participants work through a series of scenarios they might encounter on the job and select different choices throughout the journey. These learning modules are engaging and provide added context to the learning content.

Additional Resources and Materials

Another strategy that reinforces the learning process that is often forgotten is to provide resource materials that can be used after the initial course is taken.

Short refresher videos can help employees remember key points and themes from training. Due to their brief nature they can easily fit into the flow of work. Providing reference materials these ways helps learners retain the information they have learned and increases rates of application.

Diversity and inclusion courses are often integrated into leadership development programs. In these cases, resource materials such as journals and workbooks for goal setting can be useful. They can help leaders develop plans and set goals to promote a more equitable workplace.

The Benefits of Corporate Training Programs That Focus on Diversity

Diversity training is not only good for employee wellbeing. It also makes business sense. In addition to improved workplace culture, diversity and inclusion training provides a variety of business benefits, including the following.

Boosting Recruiting and Retention

Diversity training can also benefit your organization's recruitment and employee retention efforts. 67% of job searches in a recent survey shared that diversity and inclusion are a priority in their job search (2).

Increased Innovation

Diversity and inclusion play an significant role in driving innovation and the sharing of new ideas. The Harvard Business Review recently shared that organizations with greater diversity were 70% more likely to capture new markets (3).

Increased Productivity

Diversity and inclusion have also been proven to positively impact levels of productivity. A 1% increase in racial diversity similarity between upper and lower management increases firm productivity by between $729 and $1590 per employee per year (4).

Improved Financial Performance

Diversity at all levels has an impact on your organization's bottom line. In fact, recent research by the Mckinsey Company found that organization's gender-diverse executive teams were 25% more likely to have higher than average profit margins than those who did not (5).

Endnote

Implementing learning and development programs that promote diversity is a win-win strategy for modern organizations. Providing diversity training that is remote-friendly can increase levels of engagement and expand your reach. Inclusive work environments are both more productive, profitable, and enjoyable for employees. Learn more and watch the webinar replay Optimizing Your Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Potential.

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