Diversity, Inclusion, and High Performance – Online

The major objective of this program is to show, through experiential learning, that diversity and inclusion are essential for achieving high performance. The program begins with clearly defining diversity and inclusion and how they relate to day to day work practices of leadership, management, and the workforce. From a personal perspective, we define diversity as the ability to manage differences positively. Then we engage an exercise to discover how unconscious perceptions play out in terms of recruitment, development, and advancement to either enhance or hinder performance. Such perceptions are rarely, if ever, neutral. We introduce a model of performance involving both cognitive (mind-set) and functional (behavioral) skills as essential for effectively managing a diverse workforce. The key element for management and employees is learning to proactively manage human, cultural, and organizational differences.

In order to maximize performance, it is also necessary to have a culture that takes advantage of the unique talents of all employees—commonly referred to as inclusion. Inclusion is an employee-supportive workplace where equitable opportunity exists for all employees to be successful. The corresponding ways of thinking and functioning must be embedded in the organizational culture. Such as cross-cultural teaming, diverse mentoring, diverse recruitment and retention, management accountability, and most of all, a culture based upon a foundation of human equality in terms of employee relationships. An inclusive culture also requires cultural competency and a system of operation which values and rewards both people and performance. The ultimate measurement of inclusion is a performance-oriented cultural survey that contrasts the similarities and differences in how the various demographic groups experience equitable opportunity. This presentation will provide experiences, descriptions, examples, and methodologies of these elements of diversity, inclusion, and high performance.

This course is a part of the Leading with Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Certificate.

This online certificate has been designed to challenge you and help you grow as a leader and individual. Understand the essentials to foster diversity and inclusion, which will lead to better business outcomes, innovation, and increased efficiency.