Workplace Diversity

Work well with colleagues whose backgrounds and perspectives differ from yours

Why It Matters

Diversity on a team does not automatically produce better results. Differences in communication style, culture, language, and life experience can lead to misunderstandings, cliques, or colleagues who stop contributing. Each employee plays a part in whether those differences become friction or strength. When individuals have the skills to connect across differences, teams share ideas more freely, solve problems more creatively, and better serve the varied communities and customers they work with.

Course Description

Where organizational diversity work looks at policies and systems, this course focuses on the individual employee and everyday interactions. Participants start by reflecting on the dimensions of their own identity and experience and how those shape their perspective. They then explore common sources of cross-cultural misunderstanding, including directness, time, hierarchy, and personal space, using short scenarios. Skill practice centers on curiosity: asking good questions, listening without judgment, and checking assumptions before acting on them. Participants also practice inclusive habits like inviting quieter voices, pronouncing names correctly, and sharing context with newcomers. Discussion addresses how to respond respectfully when differences lead to tension. Each person commits to one action that builds stronger connections with colleagues unlike themselves.

Key Focus Areas

Participants explore and practice:

Recognizing how your own background shapes your perspective
Cultural differences in directness, time, and hierarchy
Asking curious questions and checking assumptions
Everyday inclusive habits in meetings and collaboration
Working through tension that arises from differences

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

Describe how their own background influences their workplace perspective
Identify a cultural difference that may affect team communication
Use open questions to understand a colleague's perspective
Apply one inclusive habit in team meetings

Who Should Attend

All employees
Multicultural and multilingual teams
Customer- and community-facing staff
New employees joining diverse teams

Delivery and Customization

Examples, scenarios, and activities are adapted to your audience and goals. Delivery is available in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format, as a standalone session or as part of a series. Format and length are agreed during scoping.

Related Courses

Diversity and Inclusion · Teamwork, Culture & Inclusion
Generation Gaps · Teamwork, Culture & Inclusion
Sensitivity Training · Teamwork, Culture & Inclusion
Unconscious Bias · Teamwork, Culture & Inclusion

Bring Workplace Diversity to your team

Tell us about your audience and goals. We will follow up to scope objectives, format, and timing.

Request this training → or Back to all courses