Actions

In addition to talking about diversity, you will need to become personally involved and there are many ways you can do this.

Participate in diversity awareness training. As discussed in the Where to Begin section, it's important for you to learn about typical diversity issues. While you can read books and view videotapes, these intellectual tools may not have as much emotional impact as participating in a well-run diversity training session. Ideally the training should have experiential exercises so you can begin to understand the impact of differences at an interpersonal level. The learnings from such training will strengthen your commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Recognize diversity champions within your organization. A diversity change process requires the commitment and energy of as many employees as possible. One way to sustain the momentum during what is often a long process is to periodically recognize the efforts of individuals who have contributed to the diversity effort in a positive way. By recognizing and rewarding employees, other employees will be persuaded to get involved.

Participate in and support the activities of employee network groups. Many companies have employee network groups so employees who share a similar demographic characteristic or other characteristics can get together. These groups can be very helpful in the diversity change process. They educate other employees about their cultural background, they provide mentoring and career development guidance to their members, they often assist with recruiting, and they provide crucial feedback to an organization's diversity effort. You should look for ways to interact with these groups by attending their functions, speaking at a forum, or meeting with their leadership.

Encourage your employees to participate in employee network groups. As described above, employee network groups have many benefits. Your employees are more likely to participate if they feel that their manager supports their involvement in these groups.

Get involved with community organizations that serve diverse groups. When you interact with people who are different from you, you will expand your understanding of diversity issues. In addition, you will be demonstrating that your commitment to diversity extends beyond your formal position as a manager. For more information see the list of community organizations in the Resources section.

Get to know a diverse group of employees. You need lots of personal interaction with people from different backgrounds in order to enhance your understanding and appreciation of cultural differences.

This toolkit is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace legal, compliance, or other professional advice. TWP assumes no liability for the use of this toolkit.
Web-based Leaders' Toolkit, © Copyright, 2002. Technology Workforce Partners. All Rights Reserved. Technology Workforce Partners was a consortium of high technology companies that worked collaboratively on diversity issues in the workplace from 1995-2005.