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

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My workplace is diverse. We have two different nationalities from two continents Africa and Europe. It is useful because we have sometimes different approaches in order to solve a problem or to innovate. The aspect of the language is also a big benefit for our team.

Actually, my workplace is quite diverse, there are people of different social classes, ages even different sexual preferences, and our team is a great team, all tasks are easier and pleasant to do and we can discuss the many topics without no one kind of problems, as well as, we shared our different point of view freely.

My workplace is diverse. I have colleagues from different ages, religions, gender, race and political positions. I think that the diverse create more respect for different opinions and new ideas.

My workplace right now is not diverse at all, because I work alone, but I think that diversity is one of the most important think that can good influence on teamwork on the whole! Diversity of races, ages, etc gives us opportunity to have a lot of new opinions, strateges, mindes based on diversity of background, life experience and etc.!

Fortunately my workplace is quite diverse, that is, we have colleagues from different ages, gender, religions and even political positions. From my point of view, diversity has been very beneficial to team work; this is meanly due to the exchange of ideas and acknowledges that we can do things in different ways.

I don't think diversity is a good thing. It exists, in fact. Identity, to find a common identity, that is our aim. That needs love. Love through offering.

Diversity is very important any where , and let people share an ideas and cultures.

I’m a student, so I don’t work at workplace. But maybe, there are a lot of diversity in my college. My college has some overseas students studying in Japan and a lot of students from other prefectures. They have own opinion and culture etc. I think that such an environment broaden my mind.