At a time when staffing shortages are at an all-time high, employees are still reeling from a stressful, exhausting year, and grief and anxiety linger, bias and stereotypes can be more damaging than ever – leading to lost productivity, conflict, and turnover.
Many companies have begun focusing on bias training, but the failure rate is high. Why? According to one study, the training is perfunctory and low quality, leadership support is weak or absent, management is ill-equipped to handles this task, and leaders don’t align training with the organization’s overall commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.
However, training can be effective when it’s based on believable real-life scenarios, offered in a judgment-free setting, supported by management, and championed by thought leaders. It also is important to include this training as part of a larger commitment that considers the organization’s specific structure and processes. Finally, it must be consistent, ongoing, and provide opportunities for feedback and input.
