Training Trends
News Headlines
- Encouragement and support to shift out of your comfort zone, so your organization’s real strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are identified and addressed in a way that can inspire positive change.
- Recommendations on actions that can have immediate, positive impact, as well as long-term goals to keep your organization on track.
- New and better-informed processes for decision-making.
- Access to new tools to communicate, manage, and operate business in a way that intentionally weaves DEI values into the mission and day-to-day work environment.
- Increased awareness on how your organization can become even more effective when communicating, both internally and externally.
- A shift in willingness among staff to speak up about issues and concerns. When your team is encouraged to speak up about the tough, and less-than-comfortable topics—and know they can do so without negative repercussions—typically, they will.
- Guidance for leaders on how to facilitate difficult conversations in honest and authentic ways, while encouraging the rest of the team to do the same.
- Identification of new or different opportunities to engage your team in discussions about DEI. A tremendous opportunity exists to create new platforms for collaboration and discussion as organizations make the shift back to in-person, office-based settings. Many people think about life and work differently today than they did before the pandemic. This is important.
- Establishment of a culture where every individual matters.
- A long-term partnership with industry experts who care and are committed to your success, when you team up with Training & Development Solutions.
By: James Parker, Trainer/Adjunct Faculty Member
Diversity in the workplace has been long recognized as the “right thing to do.” But these days, a focus on diversity alone is not enough. Collectively, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is about capturing the many benefits that come along with building and sustaining a team that can bring differing opinions, ideas, and perspectives to the table. It’s about nurturing relationships and giving every person not just a seat, but also a voice at that table. Companies that understand that notion and make it a priority are creating cultures that are truly inclusive - where people feel a true sense of belonging.
Inclusive cultures are very intentionally created. It’s not simply about an event, celebration, or only considering diversity during nationally-recognized observances such as Black History Month in February or LGBTQ Month in June. Instead, it is about day-in and day-out life; the way every person on the team feels when they arrive at work each morning (or log in for their first Zoom call of the day, as the case may be), how they feel when interacting with team members over coffee or in the break room at lunchtime, and how they feel when they wrap up and head home for the day. Does every member of the team feel seen, heard, valued, and that they work for a company where they truly belong? Ideally, the answer is yes.
Take a moment to pause and truthfully assess where your organization stands. If you are confident you’re getting it right, put your creative thinking cap on and try to think of some new, innovative ways to engage every member of your team even further. If you know that room exists to make DEI a higher priority within your organization, the time may be right to consider investing in professional development and training.
I have been part of the Training & Development Solutions (formerly known as the Ecker Business Training Center) team for 10 years. One thing I love about my job is that we create truly customized training programs based on the specific needs and goals of every client we serve. This is important in building DEI training. No two companies are exactly alike when it comes to culture, workforce, and ‘where we are’ versus ‘where we need to be.’ We spend a significant amount of time on the front end of each engagement, asking lots of questions while also encouraging leaders and managers to be completely honest and transparent. We are not here to judge. Instead, we are here to understand, support, and help. Many clients find this message and approach to be refreshing.
Wondering what to expect when you invest in professional development and training for your team, centered around DEI?
May is a time when many leaders are thinking about their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. So often, training is the first expenditure cut. The truth is that when budgets need to be trimmed, training is nearly the last item that should go. Investing in your people, as means of expanding their knowledge, is so much more than a nice thing to do. It is a key to your organization’s long-term success.