Clueless HR People
Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 by Frank RocheThe Diversity Solutions in the Workplace video above is the most impactful training video I’ve ever seen. The subtitle of this piece is “HR realizes they need some diversity training” and that nails it. I’m still shaking my head about how good this is.
There’s a communication lesson embedded in this training film: Show, don’t tell. Can you imagine what this would have been like in PowerPoint lecture form? No freaking way. Kudos to the writers, actors and film makers in Diversity Solutions in the Workplace, which was staged by the Drama Consultant. Brilliant.
And special thanks to Laura for bringing this to my attention. If someone from Drama Consultant reads this, please drop me a note. I’d like to talk about this and more.
Laura
May 30th, 2008
Frank, I thought you’d like it! I’ve worked with these guys many times. They’re creative and they know what works on camera. Many thanks for the post!!
Lex Fortis
May 30th, 2008
Wow. I wonder how many people watched without realizing it was a joke? I’ve also sat through a few “diversity training” sessions where colleagues would argue with the presenter. So from that perspective this clip is also a bit uncomfortable.
Frank Roche
May 30th, 2008
Lex, it’s true…I’m going with memorability on this. It’s one of those kinds of videos that makes you uncomfortable to make you think. I especially like this for diversity training.
Laura, I think this one’s gifted. It turns the whole notion of diversity training upside down and enforces the idea of “HR, heal thyself.”
Kimberly Togman
May 31st, 2008
Be scared. Be very, very scared. As a former HR director it saddens me to see HR people portrayed as such well meaning yet ignorant buffoons. Some of us (though point taken, sadly not all) have better understanding and appreciation of the issues than seemingly had by these cerebrally-challenged women.
At the same time, I do agree that this video did a wonderful job of illustrating how well meaning efforts can totally miss the point and instead underscore and reemphasize the issues they are striving to correct.
Thanks for pissing me off and making me think.
KT
Frank Roche
May 31st, 2008
Him Kimberly, I’m not trying to play into the “stupid HR people” game. What I thought was so brilliant about this movie was that it turned ideas on their heads. They used HR people as a foil, but more importantly, l’etat, c’est moi. I would think that people would recognize some of themselves in the film…and go, “Uh-oh!”
I would bet that this talented crew could do a number of angles to make this point…I was just dazzled by what you said — it’s aggravating and makes you think. Not bad, huh?
HR Wench
Jun 2nd, 2008
“You have a handbook on voodoo?!”
OMG!
Scott McArthur
Jun 8th, 2008
Fantastic example of how powerful video and acting can be. This would make a good West Wing(the HR story) episode!