Inclusive leadership training refers to a set of practices and initiatives designed to develop leaders who are capable of creating an inclusive and diverse work environment. It involves providing leaders with the necessary skills, knowledge, and awareness to effectively manage and lead diverse teams. Understanding inclusive leadership training is crucial for organizations as it plays a significant role in fostering a culture of inclusivity and equity.
Traditional types of inclusive leadership skills training often fail to engage learners on a deep, meaningful level because they often lack the experiential element necessary for lasting behavior change. That’s why 42% of managers feel they haven’t been adequately trained to perform their jobs effectively. As learning leaders, it’s essential to adapt to the evolving needs of our workforce and leverage innovative approaches that resonate with today’s learners.
The current state of inclusive skills training
In recent years we’ve seen a surge in recognition of the importance of inclusive leadership skills for individual and business success. That recognition has been met with increased funding for learning teams, reaching unprecedented levels. A recent LinkedIn Learning report indicates that 57% of senior leaders today value inclusive leadership skills over hard skills. However, despite this recognition and a massive global inclusive skills training market which is expected to reach $60.89 billion by 2031, many organizations are not seeing the desired outcomes from their investment.
A study by the Association for Talent Development (ATD) found that while U.S. organizations spent about $1,280 per employee on training in 2021, with inclusive skills training making up about a third of that expenditure, only 38% of managers believe that their training programs meet the needs of their employees. Even more concerning, a survey by LinkedIn revealed that 89% of talent professionals and hiring managers said that bad hires typically lack the right inclusive leadership skills.
While considerable resources are being dedicated to inclusive leadership training, these figures suggest a significant disconnect between investment and effectiveness, emphasizing the need for a more strategic and innovative approach to developing these crucial competencies.
It’s clear that a reevaluation of our approach to inclusive skills training is necessary. We must seek to understand how we can leverage current strategies while also embracing new methodologies that align with the changing dynamics of the workplace.
Below, we will dive into the most common methods used for inclusive leadership training, shedding light on their respective benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits and Pitfalls of Conventional Types of Inclusive Leadership Training
Despite their widespread adoption, many traditional types of leadership training face a multitude of challenges. These challenges encompass various aspects such as scalability, skills development, and even behavior change. Overcoming these obstacles requires innovative approaches that can provide a comprehensive solution to effectively enhance inclusive leadership skills acquisition and application.
In-person workshops
In-person workshops usually represent traditional classroom-style sessions led by an instructor. They typically cover core concepts and skills, and provide opportunities for learners to interact and engage with each other.
Pros:
- Personalized guidance and feedback
- A conducive environment for interactive learning
Cons:
- Limited scalability, especially for hybrid and global workforces
- Lack of psychological safety with potential for inauthenticity
- Lack of realism or relevance in scenarios
- Typically have high costs and are difficult to assess long-term impact
E-learning Platforms
E-learning platforms usually contain large content libraries that can cover a wide breadth of skills and course material. These can be accessed remotely and on learner’s personal devices.
Pros:
- Convenient, accessible, and scalable
- Self-paced learning
Cons
- Lack of real-time interaction
- Low engagement and completion
- Unable to track and assess skills application
Mentorship Programs
Mentorship programs usually pair a junior employee with a more senior leader. These are opportunities for younger employees to see leaders model positive behaviors and get individualized coaching and guidance to help them chart their career paths and build relevant skills.
Pros:
- Personalized support with tailored advice
- Practical, real-world learning
Cons:
- Limited scalability
- Potential for scheduling and availability issues
- High variability in mentor effectiveness
Team-Building Exercises
Team-building exercises provide collaborative opportunities aimed at improving team dynamics and interpersonal skills like leadership and conflict resolution.
Pros
- Fosters teamwork and a sense of camaraderie
- Hands-on experience
Cons
- Limited range of skills that can be learned
- Lack of psychological safety with high variability in participant engagement
- Lack of sustained impact
Narrative-based Learning
Narrative-based learning uses storytelling techniques to relate important lessons and principles. Stories can have a powerful emotional resonance with learners, as employees can relate to characters and empathize with their experiences.
Pros
- Enhances engagement and relatability
- Improves memory retention and behavior change
- Relevance of learning content inspires skills application
Cons
- Potential for interpretation variations among learners
- Depending on the method used to distribute this learning, there can be challenges in measuring effectiveness
Gamification
Gamification involves incorporating game elements into training programs to enhance engagement and foster a competitive spirit.
Pros
- Increases engagement and motivation by adding elements of fun
- Provides instant feedback
Cons
- Challenges in maintaining a balance between seriousness and fun depending on learning topic
- Potential for distraction with varying levels of effectiveness
Immersive Technologies
Immersive technologies put learners in simulated environments where they can navigate real-world scenarios in a highly interactive and experiential way.
Pros
- Realistic and engaging learning experiences
- Psychologically safe environments to learn and practice skills
- High memory retention with sustained behavior change
Cons
- Immersive technologies that require headsets often require high upfront investment for equipment and software, and ongoing costs for updates and maintenance.
- For some users, immersive experiences can cause feelings of motion sickness.
Embrace the evolution
Today’s learning leaders stand at a pivotal juncture between conventional and new methods for inclusive skills learning. At a time when budgets, priorities, and outcomes are being put under the spotlight, leaders might be hesitant to try new approaches. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that yesterday’s methods fail to meet the needs of today’s learners. Innovative technologies are more than trendy new fads, they’re highly impactful ways to not only develop skills but inspire sustained behavior change and informed action.