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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | www.opensesame.com | (503) 808-1286 | 8 The goal of any organization is to ensure that all employees are operating at the highest levels of their ability. Today, that means more than providing a working environment reliant upon static informa- tion delivered in a single format; it involves tools that sharpen critical thinking, the ability to ask the right questions and a program that involves multiple means of learning with the goal of continuous, inclu- sive improvement. To be most effective, DEI training and learning oppor- tunity formats should be delivered over extended periods of time. In a 40-year study by Dr. Katarina Bezrukova from the University at Buffalo School of Management, the positive effects of D&I training on an employees' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regress over time to originally held belief systems. 1 Opting for on-going training enables trainees to integrate lessons and attitude changes into their daily lives in both their work and interactions with others at work and in the world. Regular reinforcement of positive learning experiences through exchanges with colleagues, friends and family, and via daily influencers like social media ensure retention and lasting shifts in thinking and behaving. A successful DEI strategy and process require that all stakeholders work and learn together. New knowl- edge, attitudes and behavioral changes form the underpinnings of an organization's shift towards a robust DEI culture where collaboration with – and investment in – one another is the norm. Meeting diversity requirements alone does not make an organization more profitable, innovative, or sustainable. A work environment where respect and equity inform the way people interact with one another and perform their roles signals belonging and creates an invitation to every member that they are welcomed and valued for who they are and the skills they bring. Collaborative culture is congruent with an ongoing DEI process, evidenced when all employ- ees are operating at the highest level and working together collectively with the mutual goal of helping one another in meeting the needs of the organization. Cultivating a workplace where everyone is free to be who they are instills confidence, connec- tion, and ownership. This vibrant kind of engagement echoes back in renewed employee engagement and enhanced organiza- tional performance. Create a Learning Culture Achieving a Collaborative Culture 1 Source: Bezrukova, K., Spell, C. S., Perry, J. L., & Jehn, K. A. (2016). A meta-analytical integration of over 40 years of research on diversity training evaluation. Psychological Bulletin, 142(11), 1227–1274. By adopting a learning culture, organizations become more adaptable, flexible, and resilient to dealing with change and everyday challenges.

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