Exploring the impact of micro-aggressions

In-House Training Courses > Exploring the Impact of Micro-aggressions

Learn about the impact of micro-aggressions on our interactions with others and increase awareness to manage and reduce micro-aggressions in the workplace.

“A small act or remark that makes someone feel insulted or treated badly because of their race, sex, etc., even though the insult, etc. may not have been intended, and that can combine with other similar acts or remarks over time to cause emotional harm.”
 Cambridge Dictionary

Micro-aggressions are an example of subtle, indirect discrimination against a marginalised group.  They are small acts of prejudice which expose the speaker’s biases and can have negative repercussions on the lives of the recipients.

Micro-aggressions may not feel significant at the time. They are commonplace interactions that can’t always be readily identified as prejudice.  This ambiguity puts the person who is on the receiving end of micro-aggressions in a tricky position as speaking out may be perceived as 'overreacting'.  Feelings of powerlessness can result which can be compounded in the workplace where speaking out may hurt one's reputation.

During this 2-hour, live, virtual course, delegates learn about the impact of micro-aggressions on our interactions with others and increase their awareness to manage and reduce them in the workplace.

Click here to read our blog article for further information and examples of micro-inequities and micro-aggressions.

Key Outcomes

  • Learn about Micro-aggressions and what causes them to occur
  • Explore the impact of Micro-aggressions on our interactions with others
  • Increase our awareness of strategies to manage and reduce micro-aggressions

Course Context

Who Is It For?

This course is suitable for anyone who wants to improve interactions in the workplace and increase their awareness of the impact of their behaviour, and the behaviour of others.

 

The course content and capacity can be customised for individuality and to ensure organisations’ specific learning criteria are met. Consultancy in the impact of micro-aggressions is also an option either as a standalone service or in conjunction with training.

Course overview

This 2-hour virtual course encourages delegates to learn about micro-aggressions and what causes them to occur, explore their impact on our interactions with others and increase our awareness of strategies to manage and reduce them.

Content will include:

  • What are micro-aggressions, and why do they occur?
  • The complexity of micro-aggressions and how they can reinforce inequality
  • Becoming aware of how micro-aggressions affect our interactions with others including ways they can be countered
  • Experiences of micro-aggressions and looking at examples which might have caused them to occur
  • Methods for mitigating micro-aggressions on individual and organisational levels

The course will be interactive with group exercises, video clips and opportunities for discussion. The training is delivered by an experienced Facilitator who will create a safe virtual environment for open and honest discussions.

Course Content

What are Micro-aggressions?

  • What is meant by micro-aggressions, and why do they happen?
  • Research that demonstrates we are all affected by different levels of micro-aggressions.

Types of Micro-aggression

  • The complexity of different forms of micro-aggressions.
  • How they affect our interactions with others.
  • Examples of different types of micro-aggressions.
  • Understand how they reinforce inequality across a range of areas (gender, race, physical abilities, social class etc.).

The Impact of Micro-aggressions

  • Explore how Micro-aggressions affect the way we interact with others. 
  • Awareness of the impact of split-second reactions/behaviours.
  • Consider the message we send to others in respect of what we think of them and feel about them.
  • Identify how micro-aggressions can lead to differential treatment of others.
  • Explore ways of countering some of our micro-aggressions/micro-behaviours.

When Micro-aggressions are most likely to occur

  • Examples of situations that may have caused micro-aggressions.
  • Shared experiences of micro-aggressions in the workplace.

Ways to mitigate the Impact of Micro-aggressions

  • Strategies to mitigate micro-aggressions on an individual and organisational level.
  • Methods for reducing micro-aggressions as individuals and how this relates to the organisation’s current practices.

Final discussion

  • Sharing and reinforcing the key learning points of the workshop.
  • Action planning

Delegate Comments for the Exploring the Impact of Micro-Aggressions course:

 

“It was really interesting, and I initially thought it would be a tough session given the topic, however the trainer made it relatable which really helped me understand the concept and get a lot out of the session.”

"The course was a great way to connect with my colleagues in a group setting and speak open and honestly about microaggressions. This included our individual tolerances and how we would approach certain situations. It was a good balance of education and conversation."

"I have certainly re-evaluated my role as a bystander. The course prompted me to think more about checking in with people that are affected by microaggressions and offered some simple ways to directly address the behaviour in the moment (i.e. asking questions like "Can you repeat that?" or "What did you mean by that?")"

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