Courageous Inclusion™
Creating a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued
Blanchard believes everyone deserves a workplace environment where they truly can be themselves. But achieving true diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) isn’t easy. Leaders need a plan and the right skills to carry it out.
Based on the proven developmental continuum in Jennifer Brown's book, How to Be an Inclusive Leader, Courageous Inclusion™ cultivates a mindset that promotes diversity and inclusion. The course teaches participants how to become more knowledgeable and active advocates of inclusion in their workplace.
Build a road map to become a more inclusive workplace
We understand how important it is to provide your people with a way to confidently and safely speak out and raise DEI issues. Blanchard’s Courageous Inclusion program can help.
Courageous Inclusion training program will teach your people a mindset that promotes diversity and inclusion, then provides a proven process to help them become more knowledgeable and active proponents of inclusion in their workplace.
Your people will understand how to diagnose themselves on the developmental continuum and which actions to take to progress to higher inclusion levels.
This road map approach makes Courageous Inclusion uniquely powerful for increasing inclusivity in your culture and creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is inclusive leadership training?
Inclusive leadership training teaches leaders how to build environments where everyone feels respected, valued, and heard. It focuses on understanding bias, fostering belonging, and creating equitable opportunities.
Why is workplace inclusion important?
Inclusive workplaces experience higher engagement, creativity, and retention. When people feel they belong, they contribute their best ideas and collaborate more effectively.
Who should take Courageous Inclusion™ training?
This program is ideal for leaders, HR professionals, and teams committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion. It’s designed to inspire practical, everyday actions that make inclusion sustainable.
How does inclusion training impact company culture?
Inclusion training encourages empathy, open dialogue, and respect across all levels of an organization. These behaviors strengthen trust and transform diversity goals into real business outcomes.
Can inclusion training be customized for different organizations?
Yes. Programs can be tailored to address unique organizational challenges, industries, and cultural goals, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.
More Questions?
Delivery Options to Meet Your Needs
We can deliver Courageous Inclusion as live virtual sessions, as part of a learning journey, or in a self-directed online version, so your people can learn the skills to create an inclusive work environment wherever they are and whenever they have time.
In Person
Virtual
Online
Courageous Inclusion is a one-day, in-person session that cultivates a mindset that promotes diversity and inclusion through a compelling and engaging learner experience.
Prework: LAUNCH—Participants prepare for the cohort learning experience by completing a few pre-session assignments.
Welcome: LEARN & PRACTICE—Welcomes participants and sets the context for the learning experience.
Courageous Inclusion Mindset & Model—Presents the three components of the Courageous Inclusion mindset and describes the model. Invites participants to identify their stage for the inclusion issue they are focusing on.
Stage 1: Unaware—Explores obstacles to knowing you’re Unaware and introduces unconscious bias as a foundation.
Stage 2: Aware—Explores privilege as an important factor to understand oneself in order to be more inclusive. Time for reflection and discussion in small groups.
Stage 3: Active—Explores various aspects of being Active, including risks. Allows participants time to reflect and discuss in small groups.
Stage 4: Advocate—Reviews the characteristics of Advocate. Presents one person’s experience as an advocate for self and others.
Courageous Inclusion Journey and Action Plan—Invites participants to envision their own journey and discuss. Introduces and explains the Courageous Inclusion Action Plan and provides coaching as needed.
Wrap Up and Apply—Participants review key learnings and get introduced to APPLY resources to continue their journey.
1 Day Instructor-led Course
This design includes two 3-hour virtual sessions to inspire managers and individual contributors to become more inclusive by shifting their mindset to challenge their perspective, embrace differences, and value fairness for all. Learners will gain the skills to help create an environment where coworkers feel appreciated and connected, increasing the effectiveness of people and teams and improving organizational performance.
Prework: LAUNCH — Engaging assignments to expedite the learning and help them internalize the content to frame their thinking prior to class. This will enable them to immediately apply their learnings from this course to real-world challenges.
Session 1: UNAWARE — Reviews the characteristics of being Unaware. Explores obstacles to knowing you’re Unaware and introduces unconscious bias as a foundation of being Unaware. Reviews the characteristics of being Aware. Explores privilege as an important factor in understanding oneself to become more inclusive. Allows participants time to reflect and then discuss in small groups.
Session 2: ACTIVE — Reviews the characteristics of being Active. Explores various aspects of being Active, including risk. Allows participants time to reflect and then discuss in small groups. Reviews the characteristics of Advocate. Presents one person’s experience as an Advocate for self and others.
Post Work: APPLY — Provides the Action Plan worksheet and At a Glance reference booklet to support participants in embracing Courageous Inclusion on the job.
Virtual Instructor-led Courses
Let us know if you'll need Continuing Education Units prior to starting your course!
- 6 SHRM PDCs
- 6 NASBA CPEs
- 6 ATD Credit Hours
Online Overview
Courageous Inclusion is a self-paced 35-minute Online Overview with Debrief experience or as part of a learning journey design. It teaches the core content, followed by a one-hour facilitated session to discuss and deepen the learning.
- Micro-activities: Organized into bite-sized pieces, ranging from one to five minutes
- Interactive Exercises: Fun, engaging activities include videos, self-surveys, and reflective interactions as well as a downloadable reference.
- Manager-Led Debriefs: Optional manager-led debriefs allow for collaboration and discussion for a blended learning experience.
It’s time to move DEI from a business priority to a workplace reality
93%
of leaders agreed that diversity and inclusion is a top priority
Only 34 %
of leaders believed it's a strength in their workplace.
*Harvard Business Review, 5 Strategies to Infuse D&I into Your Organization.
Create A Culture Of Courageous Inclusion
It takes more than just awareness building and familiarizing people with DEI terminology to enable lasting culture change. Give your people the confidence and skills they need to create an inclusive, welcoming work environment that encourages people to bring their whole selves to work.
Expand Workplace Inclusion
Participants learn the benefits of inclusion and a framework for continual progression toward a more inclusive environment.
Improve Belonging and Engagement
Employees will feel more welcome and able to bring their authentic selves into the workplace.
Increase Team Effectiveness
People are more creative, driven, productive, forgiving, and collaborative when they feel welcomed and appreciated.
Retain Your Talent
Employees are more drawn to a workplace that demonstrates diversity and inclusion and treats people well.
Client story
Improving leader behaviors by 91 percent at Arizona Department of Economic Security
Create A Culture Of Courageous Inclusion
It takes more than just awareness building and familiarizing people with DEI terminology to enable lasting culture change. Give your people the confidence and skills they need to create an inclusive, welcoming work environment that encourages people to bring their whole selves to work.
Delivery Options to Meet Your Needs
We can deliver Conversational Capacity in-person, as virtual sessions, as part of a learning journey, or delivered in a self-directed online or moderated online version, so your managers can learn the methodology wherever they are and whenever they have time.
In Person
Virtual
Online
The in-person course is one full day. With hundreds of facilitators worldwide, we can deliver sessions for your organization or equip you to run them yourself. Public courses are also available.
Prework: LAUNCH — Welcome the participants and set the context for individuals and teams to reach new levels of performance through various activities to engage in open, balanced, and nondefensive conversations.
Session 1: LEARN — Defines awareness as the ability to recognize the two powerful emotional reactions and how they are essential for staying in the sweet spot.
Session 2: PRACTICE — Defines the Conversational Capacity Skillset, which includes specific behaviors people can use to balance candor and curiosity.
Session 3: APPLY — Introduces the Curiosity Skills, which highlights the advantage of having the humility to seek out information that might be missing and to understand others’ points of view.
1 Day Instructor-led Course
The Conversational Capacity virtual course includes prework assignments completed before the first course, with three two-hour live virtual sessions spread out over time. The virtual sessions offer learners an engaging experience that includes instruction, group activities, and opportunities to practice new skills.
- In the virtual sessions, participants develop new skills by completing activities based on personal work challenges
- Participants receive a set of online tools to aid in mastering the content and using it with others
Virtual Instructor-led Courses
Let us know if you'll need Continuing Education Units prior to starting your course!
- 6 SHRM PDCs
- 6 NASBA CPEs
- 6 ATD Credit Hours
Collaborative Online Course
Conversational Capacity can be delivered online in a collaborative, moderated class over five weeks, with assignments and cohort meetings once a week during one-hour live virtual inspire session. It is self-directed learning blended with discussions, exercises, reflection, and offline assignments. Participants gain skills for keeping conversations open, balanced, and productive, ways to maintain a learning-focused mindset, methods for overcoming obstacles to Conversational Capacity.
Online Overview
This 35-minute online overview teaches the core concepts of Conversational Capacity through micro-learning activities. Ideal for learners who need an overview of the content or a refresher, this course design can be used along with virtual and in-person sessions, or as part of a learning journey, to create more flexible learning experiences. Optional Reflect and Share sessions are also available.
Digital Assets
Set of nine micro-activities ranging from one to five minutes that learners can use during moments of need. The playlist includes videos, activities, and worksheets on topics such as influencing up, tackling touchy topics, why arguing backfires, and leaning into difference.
Communication can be a business driver or a derailer
80 %
the U.S. workforce reports feeling stressed because of ineffective company communication. 63% have wanted to quit because ineffective communication interfered with their ability to do their job.*
Up to 41 %
Companies with better relationships and communication experience 20% higher productivity, 21% higher profitability, and 41% lower absenteeism.**
*Dynamic Signal, 2019 Dynamic Signal Study. | **Wellness Council of America,The ROI on Better Workplace Conversations.
Good Listeners And Communicators Unlock Your Workplace’s Potential
Conversational Capacity is the foundation for a positive and productive workplace. It redirects all the energy wasted in unproductive exchanges into channels that benefit people and the enterprise.
Engage Employees
When people have honest and meaningful conversations, morale rises and the workplace buzzes with enthusiasm.
Spur Innovation
People share ideas. Colleagues contribute. A good idea evolves into a great one. That’s how innovation happens.
Improve Productivity
The gap between what people say and what others hear closes. Miscommunication and misunderstandings evaporate, and real work gets done.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us today to learn how we can help your leaders learn the skills they need to become active advocates of inclusion in your organization.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us today to learn how we can help your leaders learn the skills they need to manage and develop their people effectively. Whether you prefer to use well-established, standard training designs or to tailor your learning experiences for your employees, we can help you succeed.
View Related Resources *****
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Learning & Development Professionals
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Training & Coaching Professionals
From a robust community of expert practitioners to a market-leading partner program, we passionately support you in delivering Blanchard content and courses that inspire learners and realize results.
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