Intercultural Communication Institute

31 | Refinement and Renewal: Advanced Diversity Work

As those of us involved in diversity work attempt to facilitate transformations, we face repeated challenges that, over time, may tax our spirits. The natural cycle of our lifework suggests we are finished doing what we have done, and are ready for next steps in our personal and professional development. This workshop is designed to support those next steps toward raising our professional effectiveness and personal satisfaction to a higher level. It involves both commitment and openness to addressing the difficult issues faced by long-time practitioners in our field.

Designed for
Seasoned diversity/inclusion professionals who work internally or externally in all types of institutions anywhere in the world. It is intended for those who want to facilitate significant sustained positive results for people and organizations.

Refine our self-awareness of the attributes and attitudes we bring to intercultural and intracultural encounters
Examine effective and ineffective approaches for dealing with resistance, reluctance, and reticence
Comprehend contexts in diversity work that challenge our energy management and ethical principles
Explore strategies that help us flourish (i.e., renewal, concentration, focus, celebration, support, challenge)
Identify intercultural and intracultural situations that challenge us

Learning Activities
This cooperative session will entail:

Enhancing awareness using self-analysis, feedback, and selected instruments and inventories
Examining existing techniques for addressing involuntary learners
Exploring situations that cause fatigue or stress and press us toward ethical compromise
Identifying issues inherent in the field that precipitate a loss of clarity and addressing ways to retain or regain it
Examining our own case studies of both easy and difficult situations

Faculty: Janet Bennett and Robert Hayles

Dr. Janet Bennett is the executive director and co-founder of the Intercultural Communication Institute (ICI) and the ICI director of the Master of Arts in Intercultural Relations program. For twelve years, Janet was the chair of the Liberal Arts Division at Marylhurst College, where she developed innovative academic programs for adult degree students. As a trainer and consultant, Janet designs and conducts intercultural and diversity training for colleges and universities, corporations, social service agencies, healthcare organizations, and international aid agencies. She teaches in the training and development program at Portland State University and has published numerous articles on the subjects of intercultural training and adjustment processes. Most recently she co-edited the 3rd edition of the Handbook of Intercultural Training.

Dr. Robert Hayles is an effectiveness consultant. He has led diversity and inclusion work from the inside with the University of Colorado, Department of Defense, Digital Equipment Corporation, Pillsbury, and Grand Metropolitan. Robert was vice president of human resources and diversity at Pillsbury and, earlier in his career, managed all of the Navy Department’s basic scientific research. He was chair of the board of directors for the American Society for Training and Development in 1996 and is co-author of The Diversity Directive. Robert speaks, writes, and consults about diversity and inclusion; he has provided consultation to more than 150 organizations in fifteen different countries. He lives on Oregon’s Pacific coast and is committed to the practice of meditation.