“It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” ~ Epictetus
Hi everyone.
How is your Autumn going so far? Just checking in that you're doing ok as we approach a potentially challenging Winter... We really hope you're keeping warm, prioritising self-care, and that your businesses are thriving.
Here at THC we've been brainstorming how we can support you, our clients, through these unsettling times. This is the first of two newsletters to share our ideas.
Going into tough financial periods often means a rejigging of budget and prioritisation of investment areas. This article from Forbes gives 5 good reasons why DEI shouldn't be the first to go:
- DEI can strengthen a company’s ability to weather a down economy.
- DEI is integral to core values of brands.
- DEI initiatives are built over time.
- Other cost-cutting options are more effective.
- Even in a recession, investing in people and workplace culture is essential.
Central to these points are the longer term consequences for your organisation as you emerge from a financial downturn.
Over the last year, we have found that the introduction of Courageous Conversation Circles, in which we create spaces for people to speak up and share around DEI topics, has been of huge benefit to our clients.
Creating these kind of psychologically safe spaces for colleagues increases connection and a feeling of belonging, which ultimately builds trust within the organisation. This is particularly important in relation to the new hybrid working approach, as well as moving into times of uncertainty.
With that in mind...
In times of economic uncertainty and high systemic anxiety, how can THC help you? And how can we ensure DEI stays on the agenda?
1. Train the trainer
We already offer businesses the option of us training individuals to deliver our Courageous Conversation Circles. This is a cost effective way, not only to create trust in your organisation, but to contribute to long term sustainable culture change.
Our half-day Diversity 3.0 session is one of our flagship products. It cements why DEI is important to your organisation, looks at the barriers in our way (including Unconscious Bias) and ensures participants leave with DEI related actions / behavioural change.
So now we also want to give people in your organisation the opportunity to learn how to deliver this! This will enable you to keep the DEI conversation going at scale in your business, in an affordable way.
We will provide:
- Experience of Diversity 3.0 as a participant
- Basic facilitation training
- Slides and script which can be adapted to your organisation
- Supervision
- Extensive self study covering 9 DEI metrics (Racial and ethnic diversity, LGBTQ+, Gender, Female Leadership, Masculinity, Social Mobility, Age, Neurodiversity, Disability).
Both of these are great personal development opportunities for key DEI influencers in your organisation and will enable sustainable cultural change across your business.
We will train the first Diversity 3.0 cohort in January so get in touch for full details and to secure a space!
2. Reduced rate coaching
We have coaches in our team that have finished face-to-face coach training and are now looking to deliver their hours for accreditation. Coaching is a great way of investing in your people to help them explore their career purpose, strengths and overcome their limiting beliefs. These virtual one-hour sessions are pay-as-you-go at £85. Email us for coach bios and to book.
3. Coming in our next newsletter... open webinars
Watch this space for more news soon!
Team THC x
ps - are there ways in which your business could do with support that we haven't mentioned? Set up a call here to chat to us about what you need in 2023.