Lack of diversity affects more than just employee morale; it affects assumptions about new product innovation and packaging. Lack of diversity can also prohibit communication and reduce productivity. Diversity is not restricted to race; it can be about most anything, from gender and age to education and religion. Here are three training ideas to improve diversity in your workplace.
Where Do You Stand
The first training activity will increase participant sensitivity to different viewpoints; it should take approximately 10 to 20 minutes. Write the words "Agree," "Disagree" and "Unsure" on a board. Read subjective statements about different diversity topics, such as "I like skinny people" or "I love Indian food." Ask people to stand next to the word that best fits their response to the statement. Start by asking someone from the largest group to provide one sentence that best describes the group's response. Do the same with the medium and smallest groups. Ask the smallest group to recap the sentiments of the larger group.
Power Plays
Get a table, six chairs and a bottle. Ask each person in the group to arrange the objects so that the chair is the most powerful object compared to the table and bottle. None of the objects can be removed from the space. Once the group comes to a consensus on where the items should be placed, one person is asked to sit in the chair. Each person that comes after him is asked to find a position more powerful than the person sitting in the chair without moving anything. At the end of the session, ask participants to discuss the experience. Try to focus on challenges and obstacles faced when trying to create a more powerful position.
Communication Barriers
Ask everyone to lie on the ground in a big circle with heads pointed inward, shoulder to shoulder. One person in the group (at random) starts a count from 1 to 15; however, no one can speak at the same time. The order does not matter. As the group dynamic grows, the number count should increase. Pay attention to the natural order created. This exercise helps with breaking down communication barriers.
