Why the Inclusion Notebook Belongs on Every Seat at Your Next Employee Workshop Day

You know that feeling at the end of a really good workshop day? The room is buzzing. Someone shared something brave. A manager admitted they'd never thought about an issue that way before. Everyone leaves saying, "We should do this more often."

Then Monday shows up. The inbox wins. The handout ends up under a coffee cup, and the conversation that felt so impactful on Friday slowly fades into "that was nice."

I've facilitated enough workshops to know this isn't a people problem. It's a tools problem. Real change happens in the quiet moments after the session, when someone sits with a question and gets honest with themselves. That's exactly why the Inclusion Notebook exists.

Where the Inclusion Notebook came from

My co-author Jamile Cruz and I created the Inclusion Notebook during a pivotal moment of global conversation around equity and justice. So many people wanted to do better and didn't know where to start. They were reading the books and sharing the posts, yet they still had nowhere to process what they were learning.

We wanted to give people a private, judgment-free space to do the inner work first. Turns out, that's what makes the outer work stick. Responsible allyship begins within.

Why companies are adding it to workshop days

1. Private reflection makes honest conversation safer. Most people won't share their real questions about privilege or bias in a room full of coworkers right away. Writing first gives everyone a chance to sort through their thoughts before they speak, so the group conversation goes deeper, faster.

2. The learning keeps going after the session ends. A workshop is one day. A guided notebook is something people can come back to for weeks, so the insights from the session turn into habits instead of fading by Friday.

3. Your team gets a shared language. When everyone works through the same prompts, it becomes easier to talk about perspective, empathy and inclusion in team meetings, one-on-ones and ERG gatherings.

4. It shows you're investing in the whole person. A thoughtful, well-made notebook tells employees their growth matters, not just their output. People keep it on their desk, which keeps the message in front of them every day.

5. It works for every level. The prompts meet people where they are, whether they're a new hire figuring out how to show up for colleagues or a senior leader building a more inclusive team.

Related: The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

What's inside

• Guided reflection prompts that explore perspective, privilege, empathy and inclusive leadership
• A handpicked quote on every page from leaders and changemakers like Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Brené Brown, Michelle Obama, Colin Powell and Jamile Cruz
• A free downloadable workbook expansion with extra exercises on allyship, connection and inclusive leadership, which makes a great follow-up for teams after the workshop

Related: 5 Tips to Building an Inclusive Leadership Team

How to use it on your workshop day

Before the session: Hand out notebooks a few days early and invite everyone to answer one prompt. People walk in already thinking, and the facilitator has a warmer room to work with.

During the session: Build in five-minute writing pauses after each big idea. Quiet time to reflect gives introverts and newer team members a chance to find their words before the discussion opens up.

After the session: Suggest a prompt a week for the next month. ERG leads can pick one prompt to open each monthly meeting, which keeps the conversation alive across the whole organization.

Pair each notebook with a set of Affirmation Pens so writing time feels a little more special.

Related: The Power of Empathy

Make it a full experience

The Inclusion Notebook is designed to go hand in hand with my workshop, Inclusion and You: Responsible Allyship Begins Within. In the session, we create a safe space for honest conversation, practise listening without judgment, and turn awareness into everyday action. The notebook carries that work home with every participant.

I've delivered Inclusion and You for teams at WestJet, CBC, CPA Canada, MScience and Conservation Halton, and the feedback I hear most is that people want something to hold on to afterward. This is it.

Planning an employee workshop day, an ERG event or a leadership offsite? Book the Inclusion and You workshop and notebook package, so every participant leaves with their own Inclusion Notebook to keep the conversation going. Visit CherylSutherland.com to book, or reach out to the PleaseNotes team with any questions.

Related: Recognizing Privilege: A Call to Gratitude

About the author

Cheryl Sutherland is a confidence coach, keynote speaker, and the founder of PleaseNotes. She helps women own their worth through workshops, keynotes, and personal growth tools that make confidence something you can practise every day. Her work has been featured in Forbes, InStyle, HuffPost, Fast Company, and Thrive Global, and she's partnered with organizations like WestJet, Intuit, CBC, and Dress for Success. Want Cheryl to speak with your team? Visit CherylSutherland.com.