How A Training Video Can Strengthen Your Company’s Diversity And Inclusion Awareness
Throughout the world, creating awareness regarding diversity and inclusion (D&I) has become a priority in business.
Companies who make it a priority to diversify their workforce are also educating their employees on D&I to make sure that everyone is treated with dignity & respect.
This is not a throwaway trend.
It is a much-needed evolution for companies who don’t want to be limited by their past oversights, who want to have leadership that reflects their workforce, and who are driven to be successful, unified organizations.
Influential companies such as Twitter, Walgreens, and Target have recognized this need to educate themselves in order to create environments of acceptance and inclusion in the workplace.
Educating their employees on how to better understand each other, how to communicate properly with one another, and how to effectively work as a team, is beneficial not only in principle but also helps the company profit as a whole.
On a practical level, investing in D&I training helps a company in preventing conflict, backlash, and even lawsuits.
Businesses that do not provide a workplace culture that is inclusive are also more likely to lose the opportunity in hiring the best talent available.
On the more important human level, companies that strive for more awareness benefit from workers who feel happy, valued, united, safe, and in turn far more productive.
Many companies who are interested in promoting D&I have opted to create training videos in order to educate their employees and create awareness within the organization.
Here are just a few reasons why video is an excellent tool for helping your organization embrace D&I.
1. Video addresses sensitive subject matter
Diversity awareness touches on a wide array of sensitive topics, including (but not limited to) issues dealing with race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, cultural beliefs and differences, age and generational differences, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, psychological issues and trauma, personality types, and thinking styles.
Because of the sensitive subject matter, you will want to make sure that your diversity information is delivered with clarity, transparency, consistency, accuracy, and thoroughness.
With video, you have the luxury of planning and scripting your message of D&I with the attention it deserves.
2. Video strikes an emotional chord
Video is more engaging than other media. It has the ability to deliver stories that resonate on a more emotional level than print or still images.
With a training video, you can incorporate dramatized scenarios and re-enactments, so that the training is more meaningful and easier to understand.
There is always a possibility that the severity and emotional impact of certain situations covered in diversity training may not be as impactful when presented in forms of media other than video. Therefore, video is well suited for this subject matter.
3. Video is available on demand
When it comes to D&I training, your access to qualified trainers may be limited.
Waiting for trainers or speakers to become available and having them travel to speak with your team can be costly and time-consuming.
Furthermore, if you have a fairly large organization, it might be difficult to arrange for a date and time when all of your employees are available for the training.
You might even be required to shut down operations for the day of the training – something that may not be practical for your organization.
Creating a D&I awareness video for everyone to view on their own time, or in small groups, is a more efficient way to give everyone access to the educational content they need without disrupting their schedules too much.
4. Video training makes learning easy
Video eases the absorption and processing of large amounts of critical information.
So, if you want D&I awareness to stick, you will get better results by investing in a training video.
5. Video ensures message consistency throughout your organization
Video allows you to guarantee a consistent message that is in line with your company values every time it is shared.
This can be especially important to larger organizations.
Video offers the flexibility to create a uniform and dependable program that can be easily utilized used throughout any sized company.
Using video to educate your team on D&I can help minimize misunderstandings and miscommunications within the company or organization.
6. Video facilitates an ongoing training program
Video offers the flexibility to create a uniform and dependable program that can be easily utilized used throughout a company of any size.
This is particularly accommodating since training of this nature is typically not a one-time thing. Over time, there will need to be follow-up training with refreshers and modifications.
As a result, creating a video that can be quickly accessed, updated, and reused is a practical way to maintain your company’s policies regarding D&I.
7. Video is a flexible medium
Visual media has become very shareable in this era of digital communication.
Your company’s video can be viewed on traditional boardroom screens, uploaded to the company intranet, incorporated into presentations, shared online… or whatever best serves your purpose.
Videos make it easy to share and distribute information, ensuring that everyone who needs the training receives it.
Furthermore, always makes sure your CTA is clear and to-the-point, as well as easy to follow, so that you get better results.
And finally, only include one CTA with your business video. Asking your audience to do too many things or follow too many steps will quickly lose them.
Just the Facts
D&I awareness is becoming increasingly popular among forward-thinking businesses.
Creating a carefully scripted video – or a series of videos – is an effective way to ensure that this sensitive subject matter is handled with great care and thought.
In addition, your company will not have to deal with the added challenges of having to coordinate training sessions between busy qualified trainers and employees who are scheduled to work.
Compared to printed text, learning and retaining information is easier when delivered by video. Providing ongoing and follow-up training is much easier to execute.
Video is an emotionally-charged medium, which is appropriate given the emotional intensity of the topics concerning D&I.
By using video, you ensure a consistency in your message, stronger employee bonds, and confidence throughout your company.