Every week, businesses use Crowd Insight‘s real time voting systems at staff training events. This year, we saw an increase in their use at diversity training events. Trainers used our systems to quiz learners on their knowledge on subjects like demographic groups.
Real Time Voting Systems at Diversity Training Events
Every 6 months ITV staff host a compulsory training event on this subject, using our keypads to anonymously answer questions. The group’s responses are shown as a graph live on screen. One of the questions they were asked in their most recent training session was…
In 2018, what percentage of the UK’s population are Muslim? (Answer at the foot of the page). Questions like these not only encourage staff to think about their own and other demographic groups, the questions also keep staff engaged throughout the training event. Polling an audience keeps their interested and makes them feel involved in an event.
The world-famous architects Fosters, took this a step further this summer by creating their own quiz. Staff were put into teams of three and were quizzed on their own company’s demographic and diversity facts. The groups used their keypads to answer correctly and in the quickest time. Not only did everyone have a lot fun there was also a lot of learning happening.
Why offer diversity training?
Forward thinking businesses have embraced diversity and inclusion (D&I) training for years. However, high profile stories in the media such as the gender pay gap and sexual harassment by people in positions of power have forced all companies to rethink their inclusion policies.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CUSTOMERS AND POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS
There are multiple reasons why it makes sense to offer this type of training to staff. It’s just not about staff relationships. D&I training enables staff to understand their customers better. There are approximately 12 million disabled people in the UK but only 3.4 million of those in employment. You can argue that employing disabled workers will have a greater understanding of their disabled customer’s needs, not to mention the ability to offer a high level of empathy. Customers and potential customers are represented by a wide range of demographic groups. To improve the representation of these groups can only be seen as an improvement to your business.
IMPROVE YOUR TEAM’S PERFORMANCE
It is human nature that people like to feel included and feel like they’re fitting in. When they feel this way they are more likely to make quicker decisions. Research has shown that diverse teams will make decisions quicker than non-diverse teams. “Unfortunately, non-inclusive decision-making is all too common,” says report author Erik Larson. “All-male teams make about 38% of the decisions in a typical large company, and the gap is even worse among less diverse firms like those in Silicon Valley’s technology industry.”
GREATER RESOURCE OF IDEAS
People from different countries, religions and sexual orientation will all perceive the world slightly differently. When a business has staff from a range of backgrounds and experiences, it will increase the business’s range of ideas and creativity. The bigger your range of backgrounds, the bigger the melting pot of ideas and innovation will be.
ATTRACT STAFF
Many businesses have introduced support networks and groups to their staff belonging to smaller demographic groups. These come in a range of forms ranging from LGBT clubs to worship rooms. Giving staff a sense of belonging is key to staff retention. LinkedIn’s 2018 Global Recruiting Trends Report mentions, “Belonging is the feeling of psychological safety that allows employees to be their best selves at work. Even at the most diverse of companies, employees will disengage and leave if they don’t feel included and accepted.”
A MORE PROFITABLE BUSINESS
Training diversity and inclusion will result in a more diverse business. Leaders and employers will who have been trained and will use this knowledge when hiring new staff. Studies have shown that the companies boasting a greater diversity in their staff are more profitable and successful than businesses that are seen as homogeneous.
QUESTION, In 2018, what percentage of the UK’s population are Muslim? Approximatley 4.5%
