3 Activities Diversity and Inclusion

Here are 3 Activities to use on  your next Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Training, we hope you find them useful. 

1-Privilege walk: In this activity, participants stand in a line and take steps forward or backward based on their privilege or disadvantage in various aspects of life. The facilitator reads out a series of statements related to social, economic, and political factors, and participants take a step forward or backward based on their experiences.

The statements could include:

“Take one step forward if you have never been discriminated against because of your race or ethnicity.”

“Take one step back if you grew up in a single-parent household.”

Key learning point: Trainers should highlight how systemic privilege and disadvantage affect the workplace, and how to identify and address these inequalities. The activity can help participants understand the systemic inequalities that exist in society and the workplace, and how their own privilege or disadvantage can impact their perspective and behavior. It can also provide a starting point for discussing ways to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The case study can help participants apply these learnings to a real-world scenario and identify strategies for promoting inclusion and valuing diversity.

Additional case study: “You have been selected to lead a project team that includes members from different cultural backgrounds. How do you ensure that everyone feels included and valued in the team?”

2- Identity collage: In this activity, participants create a collage that represents their identity, including aspects such as their race, gender, culture, religion, interests, and experiences. Participants can share their collages and discuss how their identities influence their perspective and behavior in the workplace. The facilitator can provide prompts for the discussion, such as:

“How do your identities shape the way you interact with other’s in the workplace?”

“How can you leverage your identities to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace?”

Key learning point: Trainers should highlight how to leverage the diverse identities and experiences of team members to promote inclusion and collaboration in the workplace. The activity can help participants develop self-awareness and understanding of other’s perspectives, and how to leverage these differences to promote inclusivity and collaboration in the workplace. The case study can help participants apply these learnings to a real-world scenario and identify strategies for respecting and valuing other’s cultural backgrounds.

Additional case study: “You are assigned to mentor a new colleague who is from a different country and culture. How do you ensure that your interactions with them are respectful and inclusive of their cultural background?”

3- Case studies and group discussion: In this activity, participants are given a set of case studies related to workplace diversity and inclusion issues and discuss the scenarios in small groups. The case studies can cover topics such as bias, microaggressions, cultural differences, and inclusive language. For example: “A colleague repeatedly interrupts you during meetings and ignores your ideas. How do you address this behavior without coming across as aggressive?”
“Your team member refuses to participate in a diversity and inclusion training program. How do you encourage them to attend?”

Key learning point: Trainers should highlight how to identify and address workplace diversity and inclusion issues. The activity can help participants recognize the various ways that diversity and inclusion issues can manifest in the workplace and identify strategies for addressing them. Through group discussions, participants can learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives and identify strategies for creating a more inclusive and respectful workplace culture. The case study can help participants apply these learnings to a real-world scenario and identify strategies for promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Additional case study: “Your team is tasked with developing a new product that caters to a diverse customer base. How can you ensure that the product is inclusive and respectful of different cultures and backgrounds?”

Check out our Workplace, Diversity & Inclusion Training Package