From Puzzling Differences to Common Perspectives.
Knowledge alone does not change attitudes or behavior. Therefore, it is not enough to be knowledgeable concerning different origins or generations, religions, disabilities, gender identities or sexual orientations in order to deal more consciously with diverse people and groups. Only basic understanding paired with continuous personal confrontation with yourself and your own influences, conditioning and values can result in effective change.
This training offers numerous exercises to become aware of your own privileges as “undeserved advantages” and to question the source of your own prejudice against other people and groups. This combination qualifies you to discover new aspects of yourself and others and to openly pursue conditions which give room to similarities and differences as well as to pursue a respectful work environment.
Diversity competency combines four abilities in particular that promote a constructive work and living environment:
- Dealing with perception
- Empathic communication
- Self-confidence
- Tolerance of ambiguity
These abilities create the foundation for individual growth in your personal approach. From a professional perspective, (staff) diversity allows you to access diverse perspectives and solutions. During our training, you will be able to strengthen all four areas, using targeted exercises.
Aiming at sensitization and openness for any kind of difference, this training allows you to build up diversity competency as well as reflect on individual and social attributions. This way, you can shape diversity in a conscious way and create opportunities where others only see differences.
The foundation for this is a clear pluralist attitude, free of prejudice: It’s important to clarify that diversity competency does not require having a certain political attitude. It is also not measured by demonstratively advocating a diverse society, but rather by how the diversity of society is seen and handled. This handling needs to be free from prejudice and characterized by respect and appreciation for the individual.
Content
- Theory of social identity (in- & out-group)
- Perspectives and privileges
- Dimensions of diversity: opportunities and challenges
- Dealing with diversity competently
