Whenever people encounter someone who is “different” from them in any way, interesting things can happen. People sometimes resort to tried-and-true stereotypes to predict how the unknown person might act. These stereotypes often come from personal experiences; however, media and distant social interactions can play a role as well.

These snap judgments are often inaccurate and/or incorrect—and more importantly, they can be hurtful to the individual and organization. But why do we naturally act this way, and how can we change our natural inclinations to be more inclusive? This workshop explores these concepts in more detail.

The pain associated with diversity can be thought of as the pain of exercise. You have to push yourself to grow your muscles. The pain, as the old saying goes, produces the gain. In just the same way, we need diversity—in teams, organizations and society as a whole—if we are to change, grow, and innovate. ¹

The workshop begins by discussing the value of diversity in the workplace. It then examines three common phenomena that can unconsciously influence the ways in which we interact with others: implicit bias, stereotype threat, and impostor syndrome. By the end of this workshop, you will know what these terms are and you will understand how they relate to your career. It is important for people in leadership positions to be aware of—and guard against—these phenomena.

Questions to consider

After completing this workshop, you should be able to answer these questions:

• What are the benefits of having a diverse workplace?
• What are the challenges in creating a diverse workforce, and how can they be avoided?
• What is implicit bias, how does it impact the workplace, and how can it be avoided?
• What is stereotype threat, how does it impact the workplace, and how can it be avoided?
• What is impostor syndrome, what are the different types of impostor syndrome, how does it impact the workplace, and how can it be avoided?

Workshop details

30 minutes

This workshop will take about 30 minutes to complete.

Four lessons

The workshop is divided into four lessons. Your first pass through the materials must be linear. Use the Next button to move from one screen to another. After you have completed the workshop, you can use the menu on the left to quickly return to a particular section. You can quit and return to the materials at any point.

Superscripts and glossary terms

You will notice superscripts embedded within the text as you proceed through the materials. Roll over the superscripts to see citation information. A list of complete references is also provided.

You will also sometimes see words that are blue. Click these words to see definitions.

One quiz

Take the quiz to test your understanding of what you have learned. (Your answers will be recorded.)

Completion certificate

After successfully completing the workshop, print or download the Completion Certificate for your records.

Next steps

When you are ready to proceed, click the button below to begin the workshop.

Begin workshop