The IN-VISIBLE Map - Our resource on diversity in the workplace
You may be familiar with this situation: you want to learn more about topics such as diversity, inclusion or unconscious bias, but don't know where to start. Or you already know a lot about the subject yourself, but you're not sure how to impart this knowledge to your colleagues or employees. No wonder, because the inconspicuous term "DEI" includes a whole host of complex topics on which there are diverse opinions and countless sources of information (and misinformation). That's not necessarily a bad thing, quite the opposite: we are pleased about the diversity of opinions and the fact that information on diversity is so freely available (although we dislike the misinformation, of course). But if you want to educate yourself or others, this flood of websites, articles and videos can be daunting at first. What if I need a basic overview of DEI-related topics first and foremost? What kind of simple, easy to understand but engaging resource on diversity in the workplace can I share with my employees? And how do I know whose expertise I can trust and what is "fake news"?
The IN-VISIBLE Map: A resource on diversity in the workplace for every level of prior knowledge
What if someone could take you by the hand and guide you through the first steps into this jungle of information? That's exactly why we've designed the IN-VISIBLE Map: your guide to everything to do with diversity, equality, inclusion and anti-discrimination in the workplace. You can use it not only to orientate yourself, but also to raise awareness among other members of your organization, for example by sharing it via your employee e-mail list, Slack, or posting it on the intranet. The map is suitable for everyone, regardless of their prior knowledge on the topic of diversity. From very basic explanations of terms to recommended reading at an academic level, there is something for everyone. The fun and colorful design makes it appealing to read and the color-coding helps to guide you through the different parts.
What exactly does the IN-VISIBLE Map contain?
Our IN-VISIBLE Map consists of five parts, each in German and English: practical tips for creating a more inclusive workplace, recommended reading and watching, and theoretical explanations on the topics of diversity, (unconscious) bias and (anti-)discrimination. Here is a little insight into the details.
Practical tips for a more inclusive workplace
For all those who don't want to dwell on theory, but simply want practical tips for contributing to a more inclusive workplace, the map begins with "dos and don'ts" for managers, board members and employees. Here we present some basic ways to do more against discrimination and for equality, both on an individual level and as an organization.
Explanations of terms relating to diversity, equity and inclusion
The heart of the IN-VISIBLE Map is the glossary. We explain the basic terms of diversity, equality and inclusion and everything related to them in an easy-to-understand and concise way. For example, in the section on gender, we explain the differences between sex and gender and get into what pronouns are all about. On the subject of "race", we explain terms such as "BIPoC", "ethnicity" and why we also use the term "race" in German and avoid "Rasse".
Glossary on (Unconscious) Bias
If you are more interested in unconscious bias, you will also find what you are looking for in the glossary section of the Map. We not only explain what this means and why bias can be a problem (in the workplace and beyond), but we also introduce you to different types of bias - from the well-known gender bias to somewhat lesser known ones such as availability heuristics and the mere-exposure effect. If you've ever wondered whether you're correctly assessing your chances of becoming famous, or if you sometimes find yourself implicitly trusting someone more if they’ve got a “Dr.” in front of their name, the map will tell you why that happens to all of us.
Information about (anti-)discrimination
Last but not least, we unfortunately can’t talk about diversity without also addressing discrimination. In the third part of the glossary, we have therefore compiled various types of discrimination that you might experience or observe in your working lives. We look at how discrimination can manifest itself more or less subtly - from the proverbial glass ceiling to unpaid educational work that is expected of marginalized people. And we explain what terms such as sexism, racism, ableism and ageism are all about and how they relate to privilege.
Further resources on diversity in the workplace
The IN-VISIBLE Map is rounded off with recommendations for further reading, watching and listening. It was important to us to cater for different levels of knowledge and learning types. That is why, as far as possible, we have provided suggestions across a wide variety of media, such as online articles, videos, books or podcasts, and categorized them according to the required level of knowledge. So there is something for beginners as well as for people with some prior knowledge and for advanced learners who might be interested in reading about diversity on an academic level. To ensure that the map is always up to date, we regularly review and add to these recommendations.
The IN-VISIBLE Map is versatile
In summary, the IN-VISIBLE Map contains everything you need from a resource on diversity in the workplace, including practical tips and suggestions for further engagement with various DEI topics. This makes it perfect for a variety of uses in the workplace:
If you want to raise awareness among a large number of employees but do not have the opportunity to train all of them hands-on, you can use the Map to encourage self-study. For example, you can send it out by email or post it on your intranet and encourage employees to read it or use it as a reference when they’ve got questions about DEI. Tip: Follow up with an internal event where interested employees can talk about the topic and share their insights and questions, e.g. a joint lunch or a moderated discussion.
As a supplement to our DEI workshops, the Map helps to anchor and supplement what has been learned in order to support the long-term impact. We have found that in almost every workshop, participants end up being curious and wanting to know more than we can discuss in the short time available. The Map provides them with additional resources neatly arranged and great for referring back to whenever needed.
If you would like to do more for inclusion and equality in your organization, but your budget does not allow for workshops or other events, the map offers a cost-effective way to introduce the topic to your members and create awareness.
Included in the onboarding documents, the Map can signal to new employees that the topic of DEI is firmly anchored in the organization and provides them with the necessary knowledge right from the start, ensuring that everyone is on the same page about what DEI means.
You can also print out the map and hang it up in the office for everyone to see. It has an appealing graphic design and individual parts work really well as posters to remind you every day not to lose sight of bias, discrimination and inclusion.
Perhaps you can think of even more areas where the map could be of use - we'd be happy to hear about them! By the way, the map is also suitable for international companies: It includes both a German and an English version. This should make the map accessible to as many employees as possible, and for those who speak both languages, this actually doubles the amount of further links and recommendations available.
Where can I get the IN-VISIBLE Map?
If you are curious, get in touch! We would be happy to show you the map in a call and advise you on how best to use it to further your DEI goals.