The biggest gift you can give your DEI hiring program is a strong training series within your organization. You see, training circumvents the social and personal factors that make it hard for those who are perceived as “different” to advance.  Training equips everyone to do well, and it will give those who are hungry to move forward many of the tips they will need to make smart professional choices based on their ability to perform their roles well. 

Strong training assumes that, given appropriate support, everyone can acquire and build the skills necessary for success.   By having a solid training program, you give everyone a roughly equal chance to absorb and apply the materials.  This is quicker, easier, and far more effective than waiting for the Country Club Clique to consider a new member or expecting those with generations-long notions related to race, religion, and politics to alter their opinions.  Knowledge transcends many social, political, and even economic barriers.  Also, most people respect competence.  So, when you build the tools for competence into your orientation and ongoing professional development, you are literally creating opportunities. 

Really good training programs offer different kinds of learners opportunities to absorb new information.  Visual learners will do best if charts, graphs, and illustrations accompany the training.  Similarly, those who learn well by listening will respond well to engaging lectures and messaging that enters via the ears.  Others will respond well to hands-on sessions, simulated learning, and shadowing those who know the process well.   A thoughtful program will incorporate these kinds of learning tools and more.  

Many employees enjoy attending conferences and out-of-the-office events.  Today’s remote learning tools have opened up many more virtual learning options, and smart companies are taking advantage of these methods to keep their training current and accessible.

Do not assume your nonprofit’s managers have all the tools needed to become influential executives.  Train them on specific topics, depending on our industry and core business, that will make a measurable difference in outcomes.  You need to train people on how to manage the board, raise funds, and build networks if they have not done these things before. You may even need to train people on how to give effective speeches and public presentations.   The list of potential training is endless.  You know your organization best.  You probably know which skills and attributes will distinguish an “okay” leader from one who truly excels.  Provide the training that will make good potential leaders the best leaders your nonprofit organization has ever had.   

 If you have a tight budget and are committed to creating pathways for a range of qualified professionals to move up your organization’s ranks, focus on a rigorous training program.  It will be an investment well worth the time and funds required to create something that prepares your incoming employees for success. 

Karen Alphonse is a senior search solutions leader, resume writer, online profile auditor, and career coach. Learn more about our career coaching, job application preparation, and interview readiness services, or write to Karen at contact@execsearches.com.

Last updated on February 21st, 2023 at 04:54 pm