According to Brandon Hall Group’s HCM Outlook Study, increasing diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is one of the top human capital management priorities for organizations in 2022. Doing this requires multiple strategies across several parts of the business but Learning & Development can play a significant role. One of the key first steps in improving DE&I is having a workforce that is aware of the unconscious biases everyone has so they can try to mitigate them in their interactions and collaborations with colleagues. However, unconscious-bias training was practically nonexistent until recent years. Our research shows that 56% of employers offer it now.
While unconscious bias awareness training is important, it also provides a foundation for the larger goal of understanding unconscious bias and its impact. Organizations need employees with a more sophisticated understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Unconscious-bias mitigation is an ongoing process. Organizations that fail to invest leadership, time, energy and resources into DE&I starting with unconscious-bias awareness training and building from there are missing a unique opportunity to improve their organizational culture, business competitiveness, employee engagement and talent retention.
Brandon Hall Group Smartchoice Preferred Provider EI Design is one of just a few providers that developed a specific approach to helping organizations with DE&I training. They have taken their Learning and Performance Ecosystem and adapted it so DE&I and L&D leaders can work together to create training that will improve inclusiveness and mitigate unconscious bias.
Traditional, event-based training does not lead to successful diversity, equity, and inclusion outcomes. To encourage diversity and inclusiveness within a hybrid workforce, EI Design recommends leveraging their learning and performance ecosystem to connect people and support them with a broad range of content, processes, and technologies.
Their learning strategies are designed to shift learner mindsets, drive positive behavior change and build an environment where employees grow together to realize their potential. To this end, EI Design works with clients to create:
- Improved employee engagement that drives performance
- Increased self-awareness and mitigation of unconscious biases in your learners
- A workplace culture that embraces diversity
- An inclusive environment where employees learn and grow together
A big challenge for most companies when it comes to DE&I training is that they are applying outdated models to address what are usually new and difficult concepts for many learners. The L&D team itself must face its own biases in the design, delivery and evaluation of training. EI Design helps clients to shift L&D’s training mindset, in the design, delivery and management of DEI training initiatives. Without this, organizations will fail to instill diversity, equity or inclusion — especially in today’s dynamic hybrid workplace.
David Wentworth, Principal Analyst, Brandon Hall Group
About Brandon Hall Group Inc.
Brandon Hall Group is the only professional development company that offers data, research, insights and certification to Learning and Talent executives and organizations. The best minds in Human Capital Management (HCM) choose Brandon Hall Group to help them create future-proof employee development plans for the new era. For over 28 years, we have empowered, recognized and certified excellence in organizations around the world influencing the development of over 10,000,000 employees and executives. Our HCM Excellence Awards was the first to recognize organizations for learning and talent and is the gold standard, known as the “Academy Awards of Human Capital Management.” Our cloud-based platform delivers evidence-based insights in the areas of Learning and Development, Talent Management, Leadership Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Acquisition and HR/Workforce Management for corporate organizations and HCM solution providers. To learn more, visit https://www.brandonhall.com For information on Brandon Hall Group’s research and how we can assist your organization, please visit www.brandonhall.com
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