In today’s corporate climate, building inclusive and equitable workplaces is no longer optional, but a mandate. Diversity training is one of the best ways to address our unconscious bias, cultural awareness, and inclusive behaviours. However, when it comes to Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Training, there is always the question of whether virtual training is as effective as in-person training?
The two processes operate with their own unique perks and drawbacks. Let’s see how they compare – and if one seems to be better suited to your organization.
1. Accessibility and Flexibility
Virtual Training:
Virtual diversity training greatly promotes flexibility. Employees can participate regardless of their location, which is ideal for organizations with remote or distributed teams. In addition, it allows for multiple time zones and self-paced modules. Plus, the training can be recorded so employees have access to refer back to it in the future.
In-Person Training:
While not ideally flexible, in-person training provides a more controlled learning environment. Participants’ attendance at in-person training is easier to monitor, and there is minimal room for distraction during the training.
Winner: Virtual training wins hands down on flexibility and accessibility.
2. Engagement and Interactivity
Virtual Training:
Contemporary platforms can present opportunities to utilize breakout rooms, allow for polls, and even offer live Q and A to engage participants. However, screen fatigue can lead to drastic reductions in attention span. Engagement in virtual training is heavily reliant on the trainer’s ability to leverage digital tools and to remain energized.
In-Person Training:
There is a tangible energy in face-to-face training. Trainers can read body language, encourage group conversations, and modify their approach on the fly. In-person trainings often provide opportunities for interpersonal dynamics to ignite deeper conversations around diversity and inclusion topics.
Winner: In-person training is overwhelmingly more engaging, especially with sensitive and nuanced topics.
3. Cost and Resource Efficiency
Virtual Training:
Training online has considerable cost savings. There is no travel, booking rooms, or printing materials to pay for. Companies can deliver training to employees on a larger scale incuring less logistical complexity.
In-Person Training:
Attending training in-person often comes with travel, accommodation, and room rental expenses. Fewer batches can mean more sessions in order to train a large population.
Winner: Virtual training has a wider margin for cost effectiveness and scalability.
4. Impact and Effectiveness
Virtual Training:
Digital platforms offer ease of use. Some topics need conversations and safe space which may be harder to create. Additionally, there are still many aspects of the training for which you can have a measurable impact when done well.
In-Person Training:
Dimenzion3 noted that face-to-face training encourages emotional connection and behavior change, especially storytelling or role-playing facilitations.
Winner: In-person training wins out for both emotional impact and deep behavior change.
5. What’s the best one for you?
There is no right or wrong format. The right format for you depends on the size of your company, distribution of your employees, costs and goals.
If the need is to put something in place that can reach a large number of employee’s in a short time across various parts of the world, the virtual training is the best choice. The training allows for a good experience in learning, but for deep learning and cultural transformation, in-person training can provide an enriched experience.
That is why Dimenzion3 offers hybrid training models, as they marry both virtual and in-person experiences together in their Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Training programs. Whether your teams are remote-first or office-based, Dimenzion3 customize the sessions to give your team everything they need to reach their diversity goals.
Selecting the best option for diversity training—virtual or in-person—is not so much about selecting the “best” option as much as it is selecting the right option. Think about who your audience is, what your training objectives are and the experience you are trying to create. With the right partner, like Dimenzion3, any format can be meaningful, impactful and customized to the needs of your team.
