Teach Folks How to Think, Instead of What to Think

I’m working with a customer who wants to put a new spin on HR policy training for Workplace Harassment. They want to put the focus on all employees treating each other respectfully. I commend them for being revolutionary in their thinking…stepping out of traditional HR compliance training.

I’m a huge fan of teaching people frameworks and guidelines (how) versus policy and rule memorization (what). When we teach folks “the how,” it gets at the why …AND… it gives them tools to solve problems and figure things out for themselves at 2:00 AM when they are the only ones at work.

We will model our training session on building an inclusive workplace culture and creating team psychological safety.

Here are some key elements we will explore:

• Expectations for how to treat each other

• Encourage open communication

• Actively invite input

• Respond productively to others' input

• Learn from failure, admit mistakes free of interpersonal consequences

I’m enthusiastic about the benefits this will mean for the employees and the business: increased employee engagement, a true sense of belonging, product innovation, and profits.