TEAM BUILDING TOWARD DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Have you ever worked on a team and felt like an outsider? Or worse, have you ever been completely excluded? We’ve all been there! That’s why it’s so important to create an inclusive and diverse workplace—not only so everyone can feel included, but also to produce the most innovative ideas.

It’s evident that great team bonding are built on trust, respect, and understanding. That’s why allyship and diversity initiatives are so important for team building. But it doesn't need to be overwhelming! With a few easy tips, you can create an environment of allyship in no time.

Few easy tips that will help get you started on the right path.

1. Listen and Learn: Take Time to Understand Different Perspectives

As the saying goes: You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking back. That's why team building activities geared toward diversity and inclusion always start by listening, learning, and understanding different perspectives.

But this isn't just about a single person or team taking time to listen to each other's stories. We're talking about actively participating in conversations that may feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar, and being flexible when it comes to new ideas or points of view.

So pour some coffee (or tea) for yourself and for your team, and get those ears ready for some learning. With an open mind and a little patience (plus some snacks—you know how hard it is to concentrate on an empty stomach!), you'll be well on your way to becoming a diversity and inclusion powerhouse in no time!

2. Find Common Ground and Build Trust

Team building activities are a great way to work on diversity and inclusion, but they won't do much good if everyone isn't on the same page. Allyship starts with building trust between team members – so it's important to make sure everyone is comfortable sharing their struggles, successes and ideas.

That's why we recommend taking some time to focus on getting to know each other and practicing active listening (we like to call it "not being a walking meme"). A shared laughter goes a long way in creating an environment of support and understanding. Try playing a game that allows for honest communication, like asking each other questions about their experiences or interests. It could be as easy as going around in a circle sharing your favorite ice cream flavor!

Once you've found common ground and broken the ice, you can start working together towards meeting goals for diversity and inclusion. No matter where someone stands on the topic, everyone deserves respect and kindness – something that can be built upon during team building activities.

3. Lead by Example: Model the Behaviors You Want to See

Sometimes leading by example really is the best way to get through to people. Team building towards diversity and inclusion can be hard, but we like to think of it as the fun kind of hard, not the 'oh no this is too hard' kind.

When you showcase the behaviors you want to see in your team, you set an example for everyone else. So next time you're planning your team building activity, take a minute to consider how you're modeling allyship behaviors:

1. Listen Intently: Make sure you're actively listening and providing a space for people to talk freely.

2. Ask Open-Ended Questions: It's great to ask direct questions when appropriate, but open-ended questions can help create conversations and encourage exploration of different perspectives.

3. Acknowledge Privilege: Admit where privilege exists in the workplace or activities being discussed. It's important to acknowledge privilege without making it about yourself or taking away from someone's experiences or struggles.

4. Respect Others' Feelings: Even when opinions differ, respect each other's feelings while discussing them and avoid any personal attacks or criticism that could make someone feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

5. Stay Informed: Regularly read up on key diversity and inclusion issues so that everyone on your team has access to the same information and can learn together in an inclusive environment

6. Celebrate Progress & Wins: Don’t forget that progress takes time, so celebrate small wins along the way!

Making sure your workplace is inclusive and diverse is definitely not a one-time fix—it requires ongoing effort from all involved. The first step is to ensure that your team is open to learning about allyship and that everyone is aware of their responsibilities when it comes to creating a safe and equitable environment.

Once you've got the basics of allyship down, you can move onto the once-fun team building activities that focus on increasing everyone's awareness of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. From there, it's simply up to the team to follow through and make sure that everyone feels safe, accepted and heard. Do not hesitate to contact us at 014-6696100 or email nuunconsultant@gmail.com if you want to know more about allyship training in team.