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Upskilling first-line leaders and coaches is the first in a series of articles making the case for the use of Deliberate Practice in the diversity, equity, and inclusion learning space.

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A participant practices an inclusive coaching conversation with a Practica Learning Roleplayer Coach. [/caption]

Client: Mutual Funds Firm

Situation: As they embarked on a new DEI program, the firm had set five goals:

1. Increasing speed and productivity
2. Driving up results
3. Raising employee engagement
4. Creating a more inclusive climate
5. Building a culture of psychological safety

Complication: Participating leaders were new to having conversations about equity, inclusion, and belonging. With a new set of leadership values and new ways of working, these conversations will arise more frequently in coaching sessions, informal discussions, and training.

Learning Solution: Practica learning developed a two-hour, one-to-one learning solution with three 30-minute, one-to-one practice scenarios to improve participants’ skills with DEI-related coaching conversations. The solution was designed to help participants:

• Recognize that each employee is different, with unique needs, and that they will require differentiated support
• Understand the importance and challenges of getting to know the employee (fear, bias, assumptions)
• Understand how to apply the firm’s leadership philosophy
• Understand the importance of bias in decision-making

Learning objectives: To help the firm’s employee increase their effectiveness and overall comfort level with conversations on themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion while modeling respect, empathy, and curiosity.

Audience: This solution was designed for first and second-line leaders, change catalysts, enterprise DEI teams, inclusion leads, and trainers.

Results:

Participant Reaction: 79% of participants were promoters.

Verbatim Feedback:

This was altogether fabulous… The scenarios are brilliant, simple, and very well written. The structure is excellent -- it gives you a chance to build, there's no waffling, just straight in. The roleplay was completely convincing. You could have been one of us. The coaching and feedback were strong -- I couldn't argue with any of it.

If this type of solution could help you achieve your goals, or if you’d like to review the outcomes and insights in more detail, please contact us!