A team meeting about diversity

A team meeting about diversity

Listen to a team meeting about diversity to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

Transcript

Nina: As you know, our team has grown a lot in the past year and we feel we need to address the diversity in the team.

Brenda: How do you mean, 'address the diversity'?

Nina: Well, we all know that diversity in teams is a good thing, but it can also be a challenge for some people to respect and value people's differences. We've got a really diverse team here – people of different nationalities, backgrounds, religions, ages … and sometimes I don't feel we make the most of this.

Stefano: Yes, and even if it isn't specifically challenging, many people are simply unaware of the isolation that some team members may feel because they are different.

Brenda: So, what does this mean? What are we going to do?

Nina: Well, we need to create a workplace charter. You know, one that promotes equality, diversity and inclusion.

Brenda: That sounds like a good idea. But will people just see it as something the management team has created? Maybe they won't even pay attention to it.

Nina: I know. That's why we're going to involve everyone in creating it.

Stefano: That's a good idea. We could run some workshops and get ideas from the employees about how we can create a more inclusive workplace.

Nina: Exactly. I was thinking that before that we could run some team-building sessions so they can experience the value of diversity for themselves.

Brenda: Yes, I like that. Many people see diversity as something negative, often because there are different opinions or ways of doing things.

Nina: Yes, I know, but if there's no diversity, then the risk is that we all work in the same way, think the same and see the world the same. This makes it hard to be creative and to innovate.

Stefano: I completely agree, Nina. OK. So, what do you want us to do?

Nina: Stefano, can you look for a successful trainer who specialises in running workshops and team-building sessions on diversity and inclusion?

Stefano: Sure. I'll be happy to.

Nina: And Brenda, can you find a fun venue? Somewhere that is quite diverse itself. Something that's not the usual seminar-style environment?

Brenda: Sure. That'll be fun.

Nina: And I'm going to do some further research into how other organisations are benefiting from their diversity. I can share this with the whole team.

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

Download
Worksheet79.14 KB

Language level

Average: 4.1 (128 votes)

Submitted by fahri on Mon, 27/07/2020 - 16:16

Permalink
Dear team. From the lesson above.  We've got a really diverse team here – people of different nationalities, backgrounds, religions, ages … and sometimes I don't feel we make the most of this. The question is : What does it mean 'I don't feel we make the most of this' ?? The word 'this' is refer to 'diversity' or something else?? Thank you very much for your explanation.

Hello fahri,

In this sentence, the word 'this' refers to the whole clause before: the fact that we have a really diverse team here...

When you say 'you don't make the most of something' it means that you don't fully take advantage of it or exploit its possibilities as much as you might.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Nubis on Sun, 26/07/2020 - 03:51

Permalink
The diversity in all place should´t be a discussion topic, but simply of the inclusion, there shouldn't be any kind of discrimination, all we are equality.

Submitted by Javad on Fri, 17/07/2020 - 12:12

Permalink
Diversity in my country, especially ethnic and religious diversity is one of the biggest problem in different levels: political, social and geographically. Here is a lot of conflict on diversity. It is a very long time that international society is trying to solve the problem, but they haven't appreciable success. I learned a lot from this lesson and I will participate in this course very actively, in case of access to internet of course. Thank you
It is approximately a problem in each Islamic country.I have experienced it a lot I feel for you.

Submitted by abudo93 on Thu, 09/07/2020 - 18:20

Permalink
The diverse in our workplace is less than what excepted, we're of the same religion, nationality, doctrine and language, but the only different is ages that made some problems between old and young workers. And the benefit is agreeable.

Submitted by Hn0062 on Wed, 08/07/2020 - 21:43

Permalink
I am working in a bank, it has jobs diversity and domain diversity, it has a special venue for conferences. the job diversity causes staff always be happy and satisfied. They can promote each 2 year. there is sexual equality in there.
Profile picture for user AniDD

Submitted by AniDD on Mon, 06/07/2020 - 06:21

Permalink
My work place is diverse, I have colleagues with different ages, nationalities, sexual orientation, religion. But this situation is good to me, every day in my work place is very interesting and funny. We discuss different types of topics, points of view and we enrich each other. Our company is very tolerant to all kinds of diversities. Diversity is absolutely needed and helpful for every company with big goals.

Submitted by WarleyP on Sat, 04/07/2020 - 23:47

Permalink
Unhappily with this world pandemy i'm unemployed, but in Brazil usually the workplaces aren't thinked to provide a good feeling during the work, some higher companies have a good place to work, but it's not a rule.