Outward Inclusion isn’t just about participating in the workshop to check a box. The goal is to create a space where people are seen as people and encouraged to engage in authentic conversations.

By the Arbinger Institute | October 21, 2021

Why most Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training's Fail

Creating an inclusive organization is a virtue of leaders and employees alike. There has always been a need for a company culture that recognizes and works to shift the fundamental way we see and include all people.

As great as this need is, there is an even greater fear of doing this type of work incorrectly. Naturally, this causes hesitation from leaders to actually implement diversity, equity, and inclusion training.

“Imagine an inclusion training where everyone participating left feeling heard and invited to grow rather than feeling shame or guilt“

What most don’t see is why these programs feel so hard to implement. It has less to do with the content within the training and more to do with the focus and emphasis. The majority of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs focus on changing behaviors alone. Not only does this address only one part of the problem, but it often makes participants feel called out for poor behavior.

Changing behavior rarely happens without addressing the mindset that drives those behaviors. This is especially true in the equity, diversity, and inclusion space. That is where Outward Inclusion comes in.

What makes Outward Inclusion different?

Imagine an inclusion training where everyone participating left feeling heard and invited to grow rather than feeling shame or guilt. Where there is a space designed to help dialogue flow and participants feel psychologically safe. Where Arbinger principles are at the core. Where participants understand their own impact and decide for themselves what needs to change.

That is the aim of Outward Inclusion. This workshop is shaped around authentic stories from around the world that draw people into a bigger story where everyone is included.

Once we see that we are all a part of this story, the conversation is less pointing fingers and more self-reflection. But, this cannot happen without addressing our individual and collective mindset.

By starting with mindset instead of behaviors, the participants are in the driver’s seat of their own journey. What have they experienced and how can they change to create a more inclusive experience for others and themselves?

Through guided conversations and exercises, there is an opportunity for everyone to see for themselves where their biases lie and why they need to be addressed. This is how true transformation happens.

Inclusion Training Gets You Started

Outward Inclusion isn’t just about participating in the workshop to check a box. The goal is to create a space where people are seen as people and encouraged to engage in authentic conversations. This can be increasingly difficult to continue after the workshop is complete.

It isn’t possible to change everything in a workshop. What is possible is courageously taking the step to make the necessary changes. People don’t genuinely change because they are told to change. People change when they understand their impact on others and start to see people as people. Creating a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion takes consistent effort that starts with mindset.

We can all have a transformative experience while participating, but how do we continue from day to day? The tools included in this workshop are meant to be continually referenced to keep what has been learned top of mind. Classic Arbinger tools such as Meet to Learn, The Influence Pyramid, and S.A.M. are part of this training.

There are also new tools and resources that can be used after the workshop is over to keep employees engaged and continually growing. Outward Inclusion for Leaders focuses on systems and processes at the organizational level.

How to learn more

Think what your organizational culture would look like with a collective mindset shift toward diversity, equity, and inclusion? If every person felt included and valued?

Outward Inclusion is now available! To get more information on how to start the conversation in your organization, click here. Inclusivity starts with one person. Will it be you?