The Diversity Factor © 2009
ISSN 1545-2808
Summer 2009
Barriers Continue to Block Advancement
Volume 17, Number 3

Resources

April W. Klimley, Editor

The Diversity Training Activity Book: 50 Activities for Promoting Communication and Understanding at Work, AMACOM, a division of the American Management Association (2009)

Although the fundamental principles in the field of diversity may remain the same, the diversity landscape is always changing as companies wrestle with different challenges. Today, many corporations are focused on topics such as "cultural awareness" and "global diversity" as they fight to recover market share or regain leadership in world markets coming out of the worst recession since the great Depression.

These new trends call for new teaching materials. And the new workbook just published by the American Management Association—The Diversity Training Activity Book: 50 Activities for Promoting Communication and Understanding at Work—fills the bill. It comes in a handy large (8-1/2"x11") format, complete with materials that can be turned into Powerpoint slides and handouts.

Approximately two-thirds of the book is devoted to such contemporary topics as language differences, global team building, and conflict resolution. As such, this workbook goes beyond some previous publications, giving trainers plenty to work with on these new topics.

The solid content of the book reflects the background of the two authors— Jonamay Lambert and Selma Meyers—both experienced diversity professionals. Lambert has been designing and implementing diversity training programs for Fortune 500 companies for many years, while Meyers specializes in intercultural training to nonprofits including the Olympics, and is a professional mediator as well. She is coauthor of Conflict Resolution Across Cultures.

Meyers' global work, in particular, lends depth and authenticity to the content of the book. Her background is reflected in the catchy titles of the chapters in the second section of the book, which is on "culture and diversity." These include chapters titled "Cultural Baggage," "Seeing Is Believing? Or Is It?" and "Communicating Our Way." All are aspects of our thinking that need to be examined.

In the third section of the book, the authors directly take on "Change, Communication, and Conflict Resolution." The topics they cover include "Coaching Across Cultures," "Multicultural Team Building," and "Resolving Disputes: Skills for Third-Party Intervention."

The workbook also contains some basic information—much of it contained in the opening chapter, "Diversity Icebreakers." Many of these exercises may seem pretty basic to experienced trainers. But it seems as if the authors felt they must be included to provide a basic grounding for the other, more sophisticated two-thirds of content.

The book ends on a high note with advice about career transition and "finding the right boss." If that seems a little idealistic, it is good to remember that many executives engaging in this type of training are mid-career and may have some choice over the selection of their next assignment—and thus who will be their next boss. So ending on this note is practical and provides a feeling of control for the training session participant.

All in all, The Diversity Training Activity Book is a good addition to any bookshelf, and, if you purchase it, you will probably be inspired to use some of its exercises, or variations on them, in your next training engagement.Δ