Courageous Inclusion™

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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.

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Courageous Inclusion

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.

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.

1-Day Instructor-Led Course

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.

Virtual 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.

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. 

Based on a Proven Development Path for Workplace Inclusivity

We partnered with diversity and inclusion expert Jennifer Brown to create Courageous Inclusion™ based on the proven developmental continuum in her book, How to Be an Inclusive Leader.  

Drawing on years of work with many leading organizations, Jennifer Brown shows what leaders at any level can do to spark real change. She guides readers through the Inclusive Leader Continuum, a set of four developmental stages: Unaware, Aware, Active, and Advocate. 

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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, but only 34% of leaders believed it's a strength in their workplace.1


1. 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

Expand Workplace Inclusion

Participants learn the benefits of inclusion and a framework for continual progression toward a more inclusive environment. 
Improve Belonging and Engagement

Improve Belonging and Engagement

Employees will feel more welcome and able to bring their authentic selves into the workplace. 
Increase Team Effectiveness

Increase Team Effectiveness

People are more creative, driven, productive, forgiving, and collaborative when they feel welcomed and appreciated.
Retain Your Talent

Retain Your Talent

Employees are more drawn to a workplace that demonstrates diversity and inclusion and treats people well.

Client Success Story

GOVERNMENT

Improving leader behaviors by 91 percent at Arizona Department of Economic Security

Learn how a comprehensive leadership development program is improving engagement, performance, and retention.

Read Client Story

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. 

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View Related Resources

Related Resources

All Related Resources
Webinar

Becoming a Courageously Inclusive Leader

Jennifer Brown addresses some of the most pressing challenges of our time including identity, privilege, and equity.
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Blog

How Leaders Create and Sustain Inclusivity within Teams

Four major components for creating an inclusive team environment.
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Podcast

How to Be an Inclusive Leader with Jennifer Brown

How leaders at every level can find their role and voice in affecting societal and workplace change.
Listen to Podcast
Podcast

Blanchard’s Point of View on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

Blanchard associates share thoughts on how we can make progress on challenges we face in our work environments today.
Listen to Podcast