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

Exercise

Task 2

Exercise

Discussion

How diverse is your workplace? How can diversity benefit your team?

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Language level

B1 Intermediate

Topics

equality and diversity

My work place is so diverse, since I live in the second largest city of my country and so many people come here to study, work or for pleasure. We have the opportunity to know several cultures, accents, as well as moods. Being open mind, you have the chance to increase your empathy as the other are doing so at the same time.

Actually I don't work. I'm just a student of University. Nevertheless, my university includes people from different parts of the world and for that reason in my opinion when students (included me) have to do a group job I work with people who have different ideas, religions, believes, etc. And I already know how it is called "diversity", and sometimes it is a little difficult because we cannot be agreed. Nevertheless, at the end we always find a solution to do the homework. If you ask me about how it benefits my team I could say that diversity in my team is like a breath of fresh air.

If an organisation has diversity, I think the people who work for the organisation feel like how they are. It is very important for a peaceful working environment. In this way everybody will consider about themselves and their colleagues that If I have freedom to be myself, and everybody has the same thing, I should respect this system and our work space.

There are many people of different positions, educational backgrounds, ages, etc in my workplace. We always conduct small meetings to get different ideas and suggestions from every staff. But sometimes it is very difficult to get a consensus because of huge diversity in their opinions.

In my workplace, there are people with different backgrounds (poor, rich,..), and personalities. And in my opinion, diversity can make us more mature, knowledgeable.

In my workplace there are diverse people from many countries. We are a digital agency that works around the world providing our clients with solutions around business and development.

I think that diversity can help in a workplace in the creative aspect, especially when a team is looking for new approaches or ideas.

My workplace isn't diverse because I work by myself. I think that diversity creates rich team works and makes them more strong because of that.

In my case, my workplace is in a good instance, we have reach a feeling of inclusion and harmony, and that's the most important, respect the others, get the good things of each one and make a good job.