Advice About Sensitivity Training
A primary goal of any business should be to provide a positive working environment for all employees. One way businesses can do this is by providing sensitivity training. Sensitivity training can be offered as a way to help employees better understand and appreciate the differences of their coworkers. It can be a helpful tool for preventing harassment and discrimination and can help to promote greater productivity in the workplace. It is a great way to encourage unity and teamwork and can help create a culture where each individual feels respected and valued.
Use sensitivity training as a way to raise cultural awareness.
While it may not be intentional, many people have unconscious or hidden bias toward people based on race, gender, ethnicity, and cultural backgrounds. This can impact the way employees deal with coworkers and clients. Sensitivity training should be implemented in order to help employees recognize such stereotypes and help them avoid making unfair assumptions. Investing in cultural awareness could help your business avoid potential crises and unwanted incidents.
Focus on changing behaviors.
Some businesses provide sensitivity training simply to “cross it off the list.” However, it should actually be implemented in the office. When employees focus on how they are treating others, they can build more successful relationships with coworkers, vendors, and clients. Sensitivity training will help employees gain a better understanding of what is and is not appropriate so they can implement these behaviors in the workplace. Take the information that is provided in the sensitivity training and apply it in the workplace through teambuilding activities, positive motivation, and heightened awareness of how employees are treating one another.
Encourage better communication among staff.
Sometimes a lack of cultural sensitivity can inhibit an employee’s ability to communicate effectively with people of different backgrounds. They might shy away from or alienate customers or colleagues who are from a different country, practice a different religion, or have a different sexual orientation. Sensitivity training should be offered in order to help employees gain a better understanding of how their words and actions can be perceived by others. Instead of avoiding people who are different from them, they can learn how to cultivate better working relationship with people from all backgrounds.
Increase awareness in the office.
In the height of the #MeToo era, it has never been more important to create a working culture that is inclusive and un-biased. Sensitivity training is a great tool for empowering employees to be aware of not only how they treat others, but of how they are treated as well. If an employee feels violated or harassed, they should feel comfortable enough to come forward and speak up about it. You want your employees to know that they are valued and they should feel safe coming to work each day. Sensitivity training can help employees work successfully alongside people from all backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs.