Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2021 - 3

KEN TAYLOR

FROM THE
EDITOR

L&D'S ROLE IN BUILDING
AN EQUITABLE WORKPLACE

Building an inclusive and equitable
workplace is a priority for many
organizations this year. The social
unrest of 2020 called organizations to
reexamine their company cultures and
make necessary changes. This includes
examining corporate values, hiring
practices, leadership demographics,
decision-making
processes,
and
opportunities for employee development
and advancement within the organization.
Many organizations are realizing that
doing nothing is unacceptable.

L&D CAN ALSO BE
TAPPED TO LEVERAGE
THEIR CORE SKILLS IN
DEPLOYING TRAINING
AT SCALE AND WITH
SPEED.

This edition of Training Industry
Magazine examines the role of learning
and development (L&D) in building
equitable workplaces. Feature articles
address a variety of challenges facing
organizations today, including practicing
inclusive leadership, leading with
authenticity in a hybrid world, creating
opportunities to engage in meaningful
conversations that promote community
and inclusivity, and raising the bar on
diversity training.
Creating and sustaining real change
requires organization-wide efforts. It's
going to take more than one diversity
training class to change perspectives,
behaviors and mindsets. Business leaders
will need to reevaluate all aspects of the
organization to ensure the company
culture promotes career growth and
progression for all employees.
L&D can ensure employees have
access to professional development and
advancement opportunities, as well as
create opportunities to amplify voices and

perspectives by sponsoring employee
resource and focus groups to get
feedback and insights into the business.
Those contributions should be formally
recognized within the organization.
L&D can also be tapped to leverage their
core skills in deploying training at scale
and with speed. Traditional diversity
and inclusion teams lack the capacity
to support mass change initiatives, but
for many L&D teams, rolling out those
programs is a core competency. L&D
professionals have the capability to
encourage participation, track progress
and, most importantly, design programs
that align with the company's long-term
vision. In conversations with heads of L&D
and several companies, I am hearing this
participation has already begun.
Building a workplace culture that values
and supports employees at all levels
and roles is an ongoing journey. As the
business evolves, leaders must ensure
they have a finger on the pulse of their
organizational cultures and be prepared
to make changes when necessary. People
are the heart of organizations - and
learning leaders play an important role in
providing employees with access to the
development they need to progress in
their current and future roles.
As always, we love to hear your thoughts
on the perspectives shared in this
edition. Feel free to send any
suggestions for us to consider.
Ken Taylor is the president and editor in
chief of Training Industry, Inc. Email Ken.

T R A I N I N G I N DUSTR Y MAGAZ INE - BUILDING AN EQUITABLE W ORKP L AC E I WWW. T RAI NINGINDU S T RY . C OM/ MAGAZ I NE

https://www.trainingindustry.com/magazine

Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2021