The Diversity Training Activity Book

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The authors of this book tout that using the described group activities can lead to improved communication, reduced conflict, and more productive relationships among people with diverse backgrounds. The book is organized by individual activities that emphasize various aspects of diversity, and each activity offers participants multiple opportunities to explore personal values and assumptions regarding culture and diversity. In addition, the training can be personalized for the work group or setting, and using these activities could be cost-effective for organizations.

The authors point out that people are uncomfortable with the unfamiliar. With this in mind, I would suggest that before initiating any of the activities, the facilitators should personally create a safe environment where mistakes and misperceptions are forgiven while individuals develop broader self-perspectives. The authors, however, do not address how to do this in the book.

I found it disconcerting that the authors' personal opinions were woven into the activities. I found it to be disparaging that the authors used the term mainstream American to label individuals whose perceptions are negative toward anyone else, considering that I come from a long line of “mainstream Americans” and was not raised with the prejudices the authors provided as examples. This book would seem less biased had the authors selected a more neutral “bad guy” term and kept their personal opinions out of the content.

Perhaps the best concept the book acknowledges is “that everyone is at a different state and that the more is known about culture, the better interpersonal relations will be.” The pearl that I took away from the book was the behavior model STAND:

This behavior model provides a communication framework for identifying and addressing personal biases and an opportunity to make different choices with future behaviors. The STAND behavior model is straightforward and simple in design, which allows for respectful interchanges between individuals of differing backgrounds or opinions.

I would caution readers not to dwell on, nor adopt, the authors' personal biases of the “mainstream American,” because they distract from the core principles the book presents. I would encourage instead that readers take the opportunity to place themselves in the role-playing activities and view negative perceptions with a new outlook to strive toward the common ground that the activities promote. If used correctly, with a trained facilitator, then this book would benefit most health care environments, including surgical services.