Courageous Inclusion™
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Creating a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued
Blanchard believes everyone deserves a workplace environment where they truly can be themselves. But achieving true diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) isn’t easy. Leaders need a plan and the right skills to carry it out.
Based on the proven developmental continuum in Jennifer Brown's book, How to Be an Inclusive Leader, Courageous Inclusion™ cultivates a mindset that promotes diversity and inclusion. The course teaches participants how to become more knowledgeable and active advocates of inclusion in their workplace.
Build a road map to become a more inclusive workplace
We understand how important it is to provide your people with a way to confidently and safely speak out and raise DEI issues. Blanchard’s Courageous Inclusion program can help.
Courageous Inclusion will teach your people a mindset that promotes diversity and inclusion, then provides a proven process to help them become more knowledgeable and active proponents of inclusion in their workplace.
Your people will understand how to diagnose themselves on the developmental continuum and which actions to take to progress to higher inclusion levels.
This road map approach makes Courageous Inclusion uniquely powerful for increasing inclusivity in your culture and creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong.
Delivery Options to Meet Your Needs
We can deliver Courageous Inclusion as live virtual sessions, as part of a learning journey, or in a self-directed online version, so your people can learn the skills to create an inclusive work environment wherever they are and whenever they have time.
1-Day Instructor-Led Course
Courageous Inclusion is a one-day, in-person session that cultivates a mindset that promotes diversity and inclusion through a compelling and engaging learner experience.
Prework: LAUNCH—Participants prepare for the cohort learning experience by completing a few pre-session assignments.
Welcome: LEARN & PRACTICE—Welcomes participants and sets the context for the learning experience.
Courageous Inclusion Mindset & Model—Presents the three components of the Courageous Inclusion mindset and describes the model. Invites participants to identify their stage for the inclusion issue they are focusing on.
Stage 1: Unaware—Explores obstacles to knowing you’re Unaware and introduces unconscious bias as a foundation.
Stage 2: Aware—Explores privilege as an important factor to understand oneself in order to be more inclusive. Time for reflection and discussion in small groups.
Stage 3: Active—Explores various aspects of being Active, including risks. Allows participants time to reflect and discuss in small groups.
Stage 4: Advocate—Reviews the characteristics of Advocate. Presents one person’s experience as an advocate for self and others.
Courageous Inclusion Journey and Action Plan—Invites participants to envision their own journey and discuss. Introduces and explains the Courageous Inclusion Action Plan and provides coaching as needed.
Wrap Up and Apply—Participants review key learnings and get introduced to APPLY resources to continue their journey.
Virtual Instructor-led Course
This design includes two 3-hour virtual sessions to inspire managers and individual contributors to become more inclusive by shifting their mindset to challenge their perspective, embrace differences, and value fairness for all. Learners will gain the skills to help create an environment where coworkers feel appreciated and connected, increasing the effectiveness of people and teams and improving organizational performance.
Prework: LAUNCH — Engaging assignments to expedite the learning and help them internalize the content to frame their thinking prior to class. This will enable them to immediately apply their learnings from this course to real-world challenges.
Session 1: UNAWARE — Reviews the characteristics of being Unaware. Explores obstacles to knowing you’re Unaware and introduces unconscious bias as a foundation of being Unaware. Reviews the characteristics of being Aware. Explores privilege as an important factor in understanding oneself to become more inclusive. Allows participants time to reflect and then discuss in small groups.
Session 2: ACTIVE — Reviews the characteristics of being Active. Explores various aspects of being Active, including risk. Allows participants time to reflect and then discuss in small groups. Reviews the characteristics of Advocate. Presents one person’s experience as an Advocate for self and others.
Post Work: APPLY — Provides the Action Plan worksheet and At a Glance reference booklet to support participants in embracing Courageous Inclusion on the job.
Online Overview
This 35-minute online overview teaches the core concepts of Conversational Capacity through micro-learning activities. Ideal for learners who need an overview of the content or a refresher, this course design can be used along with virtual and in-person sessions, or as part of a learning journey, to create more flexible learning experiences.
Digital Assets
Set of nine micro-activities ranging from one to five minutes that learners can use during moments of need. The playlist includes videos, activities, and worksheets on topics such as influencing up, tackling touchy topics, why arguing backfires, and leaning into difference.
It’s time to move DEI from a business priority to a workplace reality
93% of leaders agreed that diversity and inclusion is a top priority, but only 34% of leaders believed it's a strength in their workplace.1
1. Harvard Business Review, 5 Strategies to Infuse D&I into Your Organisation.
Create A Culture Of Courageous Inclusion
It takes more than just awareness building and familiarising people with DEI terminology to enable lasting culture change. Give your people the confidence and skills they need to create an inclusive, welcoming work environment that encourages people to bring their whole selves to work.
EXPAND WORKPLACE INCLUSION
Participants learn the benefits of inclusion and a framework for continual progression toward a more inclusive environmen..
IMPROVE BELONGING AND ENGAGEMENT
Employees will feel more welcome and able to bring their authentic selves into the workplace.
INCREASE TEAM EFFECTIVENESS
People are more creative, driven, productive, forgiving, and collaborative when they feel welcomed and appreciated.
RETAIN YOUR TALENT
Employees are more drawn to a workplace that demonstrates diversity and inclusion and treats people well.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us today to learn how we can help your leaders learn the skills they need to be more effective communicators.
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Download the Courageous Inclusion overview