How Mindfulness Can Help with Workplace Diversity

Employee engagement is a top priority for companies seeking to bring awareness to the office environment. However, discussions about workplace diversity are often difficult to approach and facilitate. By incorporating mindfulness into your diversity training and workshops, you can open up dialogue and build a stronger understanding of the differences among your staff to ultimately improve your company culture.

Recognizing the Importance of Diversity

Prior to embarking upon workplace diversity discussions and workshops, it is crucial for your management team to first understand why diversity in the workplace is necessary. The reality is that embracing diversity helps your company grow. Employees from a broad range of backgrounds and cultures are able to serve a diverse clientele. It is likely that your customers represent multiple cultures, which is why having employees on staff who are knowledgeable about these cultures enhances your customer service. By growing your staff to include employees who mirror the faces of your customers, you can enhance your brand and your commitment to diversity, which ultimately positively impacts your growth, production and revenue stream.

Squashing the Discomfort

Although it is common practice to conduct workplace diversity training sessions, it is also common for employees to feel uncomfortable when asked to identify and recognize their privilege. It is difficult for individuals to admit that they have led a life that has not included any type of discrimination because many feel guilty or even embarrassed. Squash the discomfort right away by introducing the concept of mindfulness to your staff. Begin by setting ground rules for discussions and interactions. Encourage your employees to speak their minds freely during workplace diversity training sessions, and let all members of the group know they are expected to speak. This practice helps to foster employee engagement and minimize the risk of one or two staff members dominating the conversation with their own reflections versus listening to what other employees have to say.

Approaching Difficult Topics With Care

When conducting workplace diversity sessions or workshops, let the staff know that topics that are often difficult to talk about are addressed. Impress upon your staff that it is common to feel uncomfortable, but stress even more the importance of creating a safe environment to discuss issues that provoke discomfort. Discuss ways to offer support to individuals expressing their concerns, and encourage staff members to display positive body language that can offer additional support during sensitive discussions about gender bias, race or ethnicity.

While the push to embrace workplace diversity continues and companies incorporate sensitivity training into workdays, it is important that an approach that includes mindfulness is at the core of these sessions. Encourage your employees to open their minds to other opinions and set guidelines for how to offer support when difficult topics are discussed.

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