2023
INTERNATIONAL
AWARD
Innovations in Diversity
The Winters Group Innovation Title: Engaging in Bold, Inclusive Conversations® Facilitator Certification Program Company Website: https://www.wintersgroup.com/bold-inclusive-conversations/ Year Introduced: 2018
Executive Summary
T
oday more than ever, leaders and employees alike must have the skills and competencies to engage in dialogue on historically polarizing and “off-limits” topics. Whether leaders like it or not, employees are talking about and thinking about the issues of the day impacting employees’ level of productivity, engagement, and psychological safety. The Winters Group’s Engaging in Bold, Inclusive Conversations® Facilitator Certification program is not a check-the-box program; nor is it intended to be a deep dive on specific diversity topics. It offers a starting point for understanding and developing the skills and competencies required to engage in Bold, Inclusive Conversations®. Through the program, participants have access to predesigned, licensed learning experiences that can be leveraged internally within their organizations to equip learners with the skills and competencies required to engage in Bold, Inclusive Conversations® at work. This highly interactive, skillbuilding learning experience leverages the methods shared in the books, We Can’t Talk about That at Work! How to Talk about Race, Religion, Politics, and Other Polarizing Topics and Inclusive Conversations: Fostering Equity, Empathy, and Belonging across Differences, both by Mary-Frances Winters, to provide participants with the content, tools, and competencies necessary to strengthen
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their organization’s capacity to engage in Bold, Inclusive Conversations®. Throughout the three days of the program, participants: • Learn the content, tools, and competencies necessary to strengthen their capacity to facilitate and engage in Bold, Inclusive Conversations®. • Understand the model for engaging in Bold, Inclusive Conversations® as outlined in this book. • Explore the sociopolitical climate and its impact on the workplace. • Enhance facilitation skills necessary for cross-cultural conversations and polarizing topics. • Enhance their self-understanding and awareness of potential obstruction spots that might impede their effectiveness as a facilitator. • Connect the learning to organizational objectives (e.g., “bring your whole self to work,” engage with empathy, create an inclusive culture). • Practice facilitating Bold, Inclusive Conversations® learning content. In one client example, the global health care company Merck has certified 21 facilitators through our Engaging in Bold, Inclusive Conversations Facilitator Certification program. Using The Winters Group licensed content, they have delivered
training globally across the organization, reaching over 3,000 employees. In querying participants on what gets in the way of engaging in bold, inclusive conversations in the workplace, most shared fear and the lack of education. Merck’s goal with this learning experience is to build both confidence and competence in having Bold, Inclusive Conversations® across the organization. Participants give high marks on applying the program to the job; shifting behaviors in how they show up at work; delivering value for themselves and others; and benefiting from the overall experience. In another example, our most recent exit survey showed that 100% of participants were satisfied with the learning experience, with 87.5% indicating that they were “very satisfied.” Since its launch in 2018, our Engaging in Bold, Inclusive Conversations® Facilitator Certification program has grown from twicea-year offering to the public to a quarterly program that’s expanded to include private offerings. With public programs consistently selling out, the program impacts even more people when participants take back what they’ve learned to their organizations. Sales of licensing materials have grown by 25% over the last five years. To date, a total of 462 learners hailing from 19 different organizations have been certified by the program. For more information, go to https://www.wintersgroup.com/boldinclusive-conversations/. www.diversityjournal.com