Page 81 - FDI Alliance International Magazine. Winter 2020 Digital Interactive Issue

those who are diverse feel welcome, safe and equity, or inclusion, DEI training programs can
part of the team. Making EVERYONE in your WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM DEI TRAINING? create a session that will directly involve a specific
institution, program, or workplace feel equal, issue like race, gender, or sexual orientation.
and their opinions are valued are one of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training is not
greatest things any leader can do. Think about just for people who have to coexist in an office Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training programs
under high-pressure. Virtually any origination
how frustrating it may be for a team member to have been giving non-profit board members
be left out just because of their political opinion can benefit from DEI training. From non-profit tools to thrive, allowing businesses to generate
or skin color. staff members and board members to CEOs more profits, and giving leaders the resources
and managers. If there’s a group of people to ensure everyone on their team feels welcome.
working together, DEI can help bring everyone
WHAT IS DEI TRAINING IMPORTANT? No matter what we may do for a living, we’re
closer.
all human, and inevitably, we’re all going to be
Organizations that don’t complete DEI training different. But that’s what makes being human
programs are missing a major opportunity to ■ Employees all the more exciting.
really tap into their worker’s full potential. DEI When people feel underrepresented in a working
programs help create happier, more engaged environment, they often won’t put 100% of Let’s say goodbye to the days when people
employees. Why? Studies have shown that themselves into their job. Also, when teams feel shamed or unequal for loving someone of
organizations with strong, diverse environments have members working closely with them who the same sex, being born a woman, or having
lead to more content, trustworthy, and satisfied represent their target customers, it allows them an abundance of beautiful melanin in their
workers. The long-term goal of a full DEI to better understand the audience they are trying skin. Leaders, give your workers or other team
training program is to educate and support to reach. This could be anything from gender, members the tools, skills, and resources to better
team members on three levels, personal/ age, race, sexual orientation or culture. themeselves with DEI training.
interpersonal, internal, and external levels. The
time spent in this type of training will allow team ■ Managers & Leaders
members to reflect together, gain insight, and Managers who put time and effort into DEI
better understand the organizations’ efforts and training often have more motivated, happier,
goals. and more positive employees. Did you know
better-engaged employees is almost a guarantee
for increased revenue? Reinforcing DEI training
HOW DOES IT WORK?
ideas gives employees the freedom and peace
of mind to show up to work every day without
DEI training programs consist of interacting
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION and engaging workshops that are tailored to fear of being their authentic selves.
specific organizations. The training involves vital
TRAINING - WHY ALL ORGANIZATIONS concepts and understanding problems related to DEI TRAINING CAN BE ISSUE-SPECIFIC RONNIE L. BRYANT, CECD, HLM, FM
diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Principal | Ronnie L Bryant, LLC
SHOULD IMPLEMENT DEI The goal of DEI training is to create a more What happens if an organization only has one
inclusive workplace. Couldn’t we all benefit from
a little more inclusivity? Since the training can pressing issue? There may not be any issues Ronnie@RLBryantLLC.com
be customized to a company’s specific needs, involving one or two of the three pillars of DEI
all organizations can benefit from the training. for some teams. However, even if only one
No matter what people do for a living, whether problem is prevalent, that doesn’t mean it www.rlbryantllc.com
shouldn’t be taken care of. That’s the sheer
It’s 2020, and yet we somehow still live in a you’re not alone. Every day thousands of people walks of life. Diversity is the presence of these they’re on a non-profit board or running a beauty of this type of corporate training - it can
world plagued by exclusivity. From ongoing face discrimination, bias, and judgment in the differences, especially in any work-related fortune-500 business, everyone deserves to be completely customized. If an organization is 2215 Whitford Lane, Charlotte, NC 28210
debates across the country, political turmoil, and workplace. And it’s not because they are bad at environment. These dissimilarities may often feel safe, appreciated, and included when they facing a challenge directly related to diversity,
lack of feelings of belonging - Diversity, Equity, what they do. No one should feel fear or shame include gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, walk into work.
and Inclusion (DEI) training is more critical now when they enter their workspace. DEI training ethnic background, age, political opinions,
than ever before. This type of training is helping helps make sure that doesn’t happen. spoken languages, religion, disabilities, and
corporate companies and non-profits head financial status. There will always be a range of
into this new decade focusing on inclusion and Encouraging change is sometimes hard, but that psychological, physical, and social differences in
belonging. The journey to creating a meaningful doesn’t make it less critical. If anything, accepting the workplace - no matter what. That’s human
change in any organization is hard. DEI training the challenges of innovative change will make nature.
can help. any organization more powerful.
■ Equity:
Build the change you want to see. Be the leader Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion reinforces positive Equity promotes justice. It ensures everyone has
others will look up to. Go ahead, change the principles within an organization. Just focusing access to the same treatment. Often, tackling
world for the better. Learn more about how on diversity is inadequate because a person’s equity will require the DEI training session leader
implementing a DEI training program in your sense of belonging (inclusion) and experience to understand the root cause of any disparities
organization can lead to happier employees, of justice (equity) are equally important. within the group. Equity aims to eliminate barriers
increased revenue, and improved leadership and promote fairness. Obstacles can come in
skills. ■ Diversity: many forms; gender inequality, for example, is
According to this Unrealized Impact study, a significant barrier that so many women face
WHAT IS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND “Diverse teams are more innovative and make daily in the workplace. Equity aims to eliminate
INCLUSION (DEI)? better decisions, and diverse companies have biases or unfair judgment solely based on a
better shareholder returns.” person’s differences.
Have you ever felt left out in the workplace?
Was it because of your gender, the color of Diversity is the difference that makes humankind ■ Inclusion:
your skin, who you choose to love, or you’re so incredibly unique. Within any given setting Inclusion is accomplished when minorities feel
simply ‘different’ than the vast majority? If so, there will normally be people from different part of the larger group. It aims to ensure all

81. FDI ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL