DEI Upskilling Use Case #2: Senior Leaders
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 49 seconds. Contains 364 words.
Addressing the needs of senior leaders is the second in a series of articles making the case for the use of Deliberate Practice in the diversity, equity, and inclusion skill development space.
Client: US Broadcaster
Situation: Since the formation of its diversity council, the client has begun a series of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including informal DE&I workshops with guest speakers, racial trauma counseling, and extended parental leave. It has also added new holidays to recognize the importance of Juneteenth and other dates of significance to historically marginalized groups.
The client team engaged Practica Learning for 1:1 training on unconscious bias and microaggressions. They sought a flexible, personalized solution that would build awareness of unconscious bias and microaggressions and provide opportunities for roleplay and practice of associated communication skills in a safe learning environment.
Complication: As senior leaders explored their own unconscious biases and acknowledged their lack of experience in diverse environments, awareness of the need to shift behaviors became a priority.
A senior leader practices an inclusive coaching conversation with a virtual Practica Learning Roleplayer Coach.
Learning Solution: Practica Learning developed a personalized, three-hour, one-to-one learning solution with a one-hour workshop and two 45-minute Virtual Roleplay Sessions designed to address gaps in senior leaders’ knowledge and skill with DEI-related concepts and conversations.
Session 1 consisted of a 60-min 1:1 Personal Virtual Workshop with a Practica Learning Coach, with exercises and discussion around:
DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Unconscious Bias.
Privilege
Skill Development
Session 2 consisted of a 45-min Virtual Roleplay Session, with opportunities to discuss and practice skills in a simulated conversation around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Participants received feedback that could be implemented and practiced in a safe and private session with a Practica Learning Roleplayer Coach during this session.
Session 3 consisted of a 45-min Targeted Practice Session. This session catered to the specific needs of the participants, each of whom had the opportunity to decide on the focus, whether to continue to practice the same conversation, pay particular attention to one or two skills, or practice a real-life scenario.
Learning objectives: To learn, discuss and practice skills that will interrupt unconscious programming and encourage transformative conversations and behavior around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
A senior leader practices an inclusive coaching conversation with a virtual Practica Learning Roleplayer Coach.
Participant Reaction: 100% of participants were promoters.
Verbatim Feedback:
"This course has helped me so much to tailor my conversations with a different demographic. It has helped me with my approach. Given me more confidence and tools to be more effective in having inclusive conversations... even with courageous conversations"
If this type of solution could help you achieve your goals, or if you’d like to review the outcomes and insights in more detail, please contact us!
