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 (104 votes)

Submitted by Eman Samir on Sat, 26/11/2022 - 09:17

Permalink

Unfortunately, there is no diversity in my workplace at all. We all work in the same way. we all do the things the same.
Diversity is a good thing, in fact. It helps to promote a team's creativity and innovation.

Submitted by IngLuisBoscan on Mon, 24/10/2022 - 10:48

Permalink

those little things can make a big difference in the work environment, employees may feel more valued, this can be very positive for individual development as well as the coletive develop of the workteam.

Submitted by Nandar Su Hlaing on Thu, 08/09/2022 - 04:50

Permalink

There is no diverse in my previous workplace, so I don't know well. I am sure I will see diversity at my new workplace. Actually, I got a new job in abroad. That new place is completely different my nature, religious and lifestyle. I'm really excited to go and work there. I'm hoping to get good experience from them and get along with all people. I don't want to be alone or isolated. I'm trying to respect their ways and behaviors and culture.

Submitted by farhadwahaj on Mon, 29/08/2022 - 12:31

Permalink

Actually, in the past, we did not have any sort of workplace charter, diversity, and inclusion. After, when a new team lead came to our team he started to work on diversity and created a workplace charter. we saw a pretty of innovations and creative thinking in our all work especially the reports for which we were responsible.

Submitted by mylehuyen on Sat, 27/08/2022 - 12:09

Permalink

My colleagues come from various parts of my country, and they graduated from different universities all over the country. Hence, their cultures and majors are varied.
I always look on the bright side of this problem. Diversity entails establishing an environment where different opinions are encouraged rather than marginalised. My team has tremendously benefited from this. It promotes more creativity and innovation. Diversity is like a breath of fresh air.

Submitted by mamalirezaenglish on Mon, 08/08/2022 - 18:17

Permalink

Diversity is one of the most crucial concepts in human resource management. Diversity in a workplace, leads to creativity and makes different ideas involve in solving different problems.

Submitted by Oughli87 on Sat, 23/07/2022 - 16:51

Permalink

Actually, you couldn't find diversity everywhere in your home country, but if you live out that will sure realize the diversity whether in your work or your college.
In my work there are lot of diversity from nationalities, backgrounds, religions.. and languages.
This diversity allowed me to develop my second language and see how people think of doing things.

Submitted by AngDor on Thu, 16/06/2022 - 03:54

Permalink

Well, at my workplace I'm the only foreigner, I'm venezuelan and I work for a chilean company, the rest of the team are all chileans, as a team we manage to create a workplace where we try to help each other in everything we can.

Submitted by Jeedapa on Sat, 11/06/2022 - 18:31

Permalink

People at my workplace have the same nationality. However, I've experienced a diversity of thought and ideas. Anyway, I think diversity has pros and cons. Even though diversity can lead to a conflict, it can show us another perspective.

Submitted by Mm1111 on Wed, 01/06/2022 - 16:40

Permalink

In my present job I think that is diversity because my colleagues are the diferent religions and cultures. They are men an women and they have different ages. They provide many ideas and this is amazing!