Inclusity starts each inclusion training session with a “connection.” This is more than just a euphemism for those (sometimes-corny) ice breaker activities that add levity to a workshop, if little substance.
Often our connection exercises ask participants to introspect (to connect with themselves, if you will). Then comes the sharing and listening to each other, which is where the real connections start to be forged. We reveal our humanness, acknowledge our diversity, and, most importantly, realize our similarities — where we connect.
“We connect people first, as opposed to focusing on differences first,” says Maria Arcocha White, CEO and founder of Inclusity. “We start the conversation around what is common for them; that builds trust, that enables conversation, and that facilitates communication.”
In an increasingly disconnected world (in spite of the ubiquity of technological connections), these in-person activities are vital.
“Connection is important,” writes Ken and Scott Blanchard in Fast Company. “People who feel connected to their leader are more likely to feel good about their jobs, stay with the organization, and act in ways that support it. Without connection, people feel out of the loop. This leads to isolation, a lack of well-being, and possible disengagement.”
Inclusity fosters connections to deepen people’s awareness and build foundations for inclusive cultures. “Our approach brings people together, and then once we bring them together, it’s way easier to talk about the differences,” says Arcocha White. “Ninety-eight percent of people on this earth are well-intentioned, good-hearted people who want to have good relationships and want to be successful in the workplace. But they just don’t know how to deal with difference effectively.”
She adds: “When people feel heard, valued and that they belong, they engage and contribute to their maximum potential.”
People can experience Inclusity’s positive approach to inclusion and diversity training at a Conscious Inclusion workshop. The three-hour workshop’s discussions and interactive activities help participants understand and recognize unconscious bias and how it affects culture and business productivity. Participants will then learn practical tips to be more intentionally inclusive.
It “opened eyes to things happening everyday, and now I feel in a better place to handle them,” one past participant shared. Another commented: “I have attended many diversity and inclusion workshops, and this was by far the most engaging and beneficial.”
Inclusity facilitates Conscious Inclusion workshops at businesses and organizations across the country. Talk to us if this sounds like it might be a good fit for your organization or if another inclusion and diversity training program could work for you. We’re holding a public Conscious Inclusion workshop in Indianapolis on Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon, if you are interested in participating, click here or call 317-716-7678.
