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April 1st, 2021 · 5 min read

8 types of diversity, equity and inclusion training to implement within your organization

Written by: Izabelle Hundrev

What is diversity, equity and inclusion training?

Corporate benefits of DEI training

Who should participate in DEI training?

What topics should be included in diversity, equity and inclusion training?

  • Cultural humility: The practice of challenging biases and prejudices in the workplace (including one's own.)
  • Awareness of social identity: Understanding of who an individual is based on the groups they belong to.
  • Challenging of structural inequalities: Institutional patterns that provide advantages or disadvantages to members of the workplace based on race or identity.

Types of diversity, equity and inclusion training

  • Common ground training is based on finding similar priorities, values, and goals to help align colleagues and get everyone on the same path forward.
  • Facilitated conversation training creates an open space for less vocal employees to be heard, issues to be brought up, concerns voiced and feedback given.
  • Cultural sensitivity training helps members of a dominant group at your organization to understand how to be better and empathize with colleagues of under-represented cultures, backgrounds or identities.
  • Unconscious bias training aims to uncover and identify the subconscious ways in which we engage in biased or oppressive behaviors and practices.
  • Accommodation training empowers diverse employees to advocate for how they can be better accommodated in the workplace. It allows employees with different physical, environmental or religious needs to drive the creation of spaces in which they feel comfortable and safe.
  • Inclusive management training helps supervisors to recognize discriminatory or oppressive management practices and “dismantle biased systems” within the workplace.
  • Community engagement training goes beyond your internal organization and encourages team members to look at how your business can serve the greater community through the lens of DEI.
  • Anti-oppression is an advanced type of training that teaches employees how to go from ally to collaborator and take an active stance in supporting and uplifting their marginalized colleagues. This type of training frequently covers subjects such as anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-transphobia and more.

Measuring the impact of different types of diversity, equity and inclusion training

Example diversity, equity and inclusion metrics

  • Diversity percentage in leadership: Do you have diverse representation in management? This includes leadership at all levels, including the C-suite and even a board of directors.
  • Retention: Do employees enjoy their jobs and feel they have equal access to opportunities for advancement and upskilling?
  • Program engagement: Are your workforce education, mentorship, and other continuous learning programs being used? Has engagement increased since DEI training was implemented?
  • Employee feedback: How does your workforce feel about the company culture in regards to DEI? Do they feel served by DEI initiatives? Do they think current DEI initiatives have been effective? Which demographics in your employee base think DEI training has been successful? Which ones do not?

Where DEI training falls short

You can address talent development challenges