As the workforce continues to become more diverse, leaders continue to be challenged to create a positive work culture that attracts diverse employees and encourages them to stay. To support a culture of inclusivity, organizations need to prioritize empathetic learning design and experiences.
Diversity matters
- 80% of employees indicate that inclusion is important when choosing an employer
- Corporations identified as more diverse and inclusive are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors
- 450 chief human resources officers (CHROs) who participated in DDI’s Global Leadership Forecast 2023 said that workplaces will only continue to become more diverse, flexible, and dispersed
We recently interviewed a representative sample of senior L&D executives from 20 Fortune 500 organizations and multinational companies across various industries to learn more about top companies’ current L&D challenges. One of the common themes that emerged was the need to embrace inclusivity. Leaders expressed that they need to seek and encourage others’ ideas and perspectives; navigate difficult conversations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and be proactive in creating positive work cultures that attract top employees and inspire them to stay.
You can read the full report here: The State of Coaching in the Workplace in 2023.
How empathetic learning design prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion
Empathetic learning design is an approach that prioritizes the needs, experiences, and perspectives of diverse learners and encourages them to demonstrate empathy toward their peers. It involves taking time to understand and appreciate the unique backgrounds, cultures, and identities represented by the target audience and designing learning experiences that are inclusive, culturally responsive, and supportive of their needs. Empathetic learning design is essential for promoting DEI because it creates a safe space for learners from different backgrounds and identities to feel seen, heard, and understood. This can help to reduce the barriers that may exist for some learners, help others develop the empathy to overcome personal biases, and promote a more equitable learning environment.
Empathetic learning considers the following:
- The needs of a specific group of learners
- The organization’s culture and diversity
- Recent organizational challenges
- Factors such as accessibility, language, and cultural relevance
- Representation of the learner population
Empathetic designs often take an immersive approach by using scenario simulations to introduce challenging dilemmas with nuanced content that demands inclusive discussions. These simulations can be adjusted and versioned to allow facilitators to add a dimension of personalization and deliver more applicable content to each audience. Leveraging these adaptive training techniques helps learners connect to the material and know their perspective is taken into account.
Building an empathetic mindset in learners
We’re all familiar with mandatory training experiences that promote the importance of embracing diversity. While these initiatives may be effective at introducing DEI constructs, they often fail to build genuine empathy. Creating a learning experience that creates an empathetic mindset requires a more nuanced approach that challenges learners to experience personal biases through complex situations without straightforward solutions.
We all have biases which can negatively impact our ability to empathize. But empathy at work can be taught effectively if it’s approached in a way that invites robust dialog, encourages self-discovery, and inspires learners to view situations through another person’s lens. Developing awareness of the perspectives of teammates, and actively listening to and engaging with people from diverse backgrounds can promote empathy, inclusivity, and understanding in the workplace.
Blueline’s ExperienceBUILDERTM scenario simulations put teams of learners into situations where they need to collaborate to find a solution that will impact a range of metrics, such as business impact, employee engagement, and team health. Teams receive real-time feedback and watch their position change on the leaderboard as they collaborate on how best to solve real-life challenges. Together with their colleagues, learners explore options, consider diverse perspectives, and weigh the pros and cons. They see first-hand how personal biases can hinder inclusion, affect judgment and impact overall performance. These simulations are particularly effective in fostering a company culture that welcomes thoughtful conversations between team members with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Your learners want to be successful in today’s diverse environment, and Blueline gives them the tools they need to succeed. Get in touch for a free consultation and demo.
Could your team benefit from leadership development?
Effective leadership training should be:
- Engaging
- Thought-provoking
- Collaborative
- Truly productive
Experience scenario-based learning with these FREE leadership development scenarios with 1st and 2nd level leaders.
