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

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Average: 4.1 (129 votes)

Submitted by Felipe1208 on Fri, 19/05/2023 - 03:08

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It seems to me that when you work in a team that is quite diverse, it could bring a lot of positive things. On the one hand, when you have a diverse group, you could approach and face problems from different points of view, and also when it comes to creating new ideas, these could be the union of different perspectives. Keep in mind that the success of a diverse group will also depend on the type of leader who manages and guides the group in a good way.

Submitted by okannnn26 on Sun, 23/04/2023 - 14:16

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I am a lawyer in my country. I like diversity and my I am curious different culture, religions, backround... So I want to trip abroad. I did to apply greendcard. I hope I win and got to the abroad. I also want to master in USA. My english level is less than others I suppouse but I really try to improvement my English level. I am work five days in a week so I have just a little bit free time.

Submitted by Sliang on Fri, 24/03/2023 - 00:21

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I believe that my workplace is quite diverse, with individuals from different countries and cultures. However, I think that compared to a university, it may not be as inclusive. In my experience, universities tend to be the most diverse and inclusive environments. Generally, universities show true respect from their hearts, not just on the surface. True inclusion emphasizes the inclusion of all different types of people in an organization, community, or society and makes everyone feel valued and recognized. It emphasizes eliminating discrimination and exclusion and creating a safe environment. It's important to note that diversity and inclusion are fundamentally different. While many places may show diversity on the surface, such as in the workplace, schools, and communities, not everyone truly understands and accepts inclusion. People may accept diversity but not necessarily inclusion. As society continues to progress, I hope that more people will truly understand and embrace inclusion, recognizing its benefits and contributing to its growth.

In terms of benefits to the team, diversity can bring a wide range of perspectives and ideas to the table, leading to more creative and innovative solutions. It also allows for a greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures, which can enhance communication and teamwork. Ultimately, a diverse and inclusive team can lead to increased productivity, employee satisfaction, and overall success.

Submitted by yagmurrelll on Mon, 06/03/2023 - 16:38

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my workplace is class .we are a community from all over turkey . we create something and everyone make diversity something and our horizons are opening

Submitted by ame_sp on Fri, 27/01/2023 - 21:13

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I'm a master's student in a foreign country and like me there are many other students, so I am used to working in a biodiverse environment. Biodiversity can bring a lot to a work team, such as new and fresh ideas. Furthermore, people can learn to be more sensitive towards others who are not so similar to them, and to be more respectful.

Submitted by Galgonetti on Mon, 16/01/2023 - 18:04

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I know that the diversity is one of the most importants skills in a workgroup or even in a company, I'm afraid to say in my country it doesn't exist the diversity already have in other countrys like UK, Germany, etc... I would like to see more diversity however there are only people from my country where I actually live.

Submitted by Ramazan Altınışık on Thu, 12/01/2023 - 17:59

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My workplace is good at diversity. Each co-worker has different background and point of view. I gain further insights from every single worker in the workplace. I think the place I work is fairly diverse enough.

Submitted by FatCat03 on Thu, 12/01/2023 - 09:10

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For me, diversity means different minds, different point of views and different backgrounds. Diversity should be in the workplace.

Submitted by pato-fer_mari.rober on Mon, 09/01/2023 - 19:29

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Diversity is the best thing to improve any project, any idea, any work

Submitted by Johnny Aung Aung on Fri, 30/12/2022 - 05:13

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I was never aware of diversity before.Now I realised the people in my job are different religions and they come from different places.This is a really diversity thing.We get different idea from them.This make us better in creation and innovation.So,I think that we all need to know more about the value of diversity ourselves.