DEI Education in the Workplace
DEI Education for the Workplace
“There are a lot of companies that put out fancy marketing slogans about diversity and inclusivity but when we peel back the layers and look at how managers lead their teams there is a gap.” -Michelle Kim
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion have become an evolving topic of conversation within the workplace culture as organizations have implemented DEI programs to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. However, according to DEIintheWorkplace.com, while 97% of companies for established DEI programs, only 25% of these programs are successful. Thus, DEIintheWorplace.com has shared eight specific tips that can help start and improve DEI in your workplace if applied consistently.
- Start with the why.
Identify the strategic priorities and goals of your company. Then, determine how diversity, equity, and inclusion will help accomplish those priorities and goals.
- Identify the key sponsor, champions, and allies.
It is significant to identify the key players actively supporting the DEI efforts. This process often begins with the most senior leader of the organization, supported by a DEI council or committee made up of champions and allies.
- Assess the current state, gaps, and opportunities.
A great way to assess the current state is implementing surveys, listening sessions, and leadership interviews.
- Define and assign actions.
Once key players and the gaps are identified, assigning and planning activities can begin. Such actions could include playing “I Am, But I am Not,” creating one-on-one meeting templates to encourage conversation, having employees present defining moments in their lives, etc.
- Communicate, communicate, communicate.
Open lines of communication between DEI leaders and their team members are essential for identifying unique needs and expectations from underrepresented communities.
- Provide a psychologically safe environment.
By having a successful line of communication, employers create a psychologically safe environment where individuals feel heard and valued.
- Measure what matters.
“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” -Peter Drucker
Create a menu of Key Performance indicators (KPIs) to help measure the employee experience.
- Learn, Adjust, Repeat.
By creating KPIs, companies can now measure and track over time, allowing them to learn and adjust when needed.
Sources: DEIintheworkplace.com, officevibe.com
If you are interested in more information on building or improving a DEI program within your work environment, a source to use is DEIintheworkplace.com which provides step-by-step guides, tips for DEI strategy, and even DEI software in the workplace. Another great source is the article “5 diversity and inclusion activities for the workplace” on officevibe.com.
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