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 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.

Diversity is very important thing. I work in university we have many different nationalities we creat a good relationship and we know more things about there countries.

I think that diversity is not dangerous theme for workshops. It is important to include all our members to the process.

Diversity helps in getting to know others cultures and interests, also its helps in learning from others and exchange knowledge

Well .. for my concern the diversity is very important in the teamwork .. We can get a new ideas from different team members .