As learning professionals, we have a duty to do our part to create an inclusive learning environment within our organizations. Whether your organization has a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion effort or not, the learning department is in a unique position of power to create an environment where everyone in the organization not only feels represented but can see a path of equality when it comes to professional development.

So, how can a training department create an inclusive learning environment?

In 2016, the Journal of Experimental Psychology published a study on the effectiveness of training to reduce implicit racial preferences over time. In two studies with a total of 6,321 participants, they discovered that while these training interventions immediately reduced implicit preferences, none were effective after several hours to several days.

So, if diversity training is a momentary band-aid with its soon-to-be-forgotten content, why do so many organizations turn to it as a solution?

To me, there was no one else I could think of to kick off this series than the person who inspired me to become a trainer in the first place, Steve Wunch! Anyone who knows Steve (and if you are in the training world, how can you NOT know Steve), knows that his magnetic personality and passion for helping others is just one of the many factors that go into his incredible public speaking ability. In over a decade in this industry, I have yet to see someone captivate an audience like Steve. And today, he is giving our Overnight Trainer Community our first lesson on what can be one of the scariest parts about diving into a new training role: public speaking.