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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
I really find what they tell about diversity is very important . they said that without diversity we have no creativity and we all are thinking the same way.
Mister Giaiaiaiai other members good evening from Burundi.
Dear Giaiaiaiai, i believe that thought above is absolutely wrong.but i appreciate how you express your suggestions in intelligent way which has got us being courageous to comment as it was said by the core team.
So i worked in somalia few years ago when i got chance to work in diverse company.
I mean AFRICAN MISSION IN SOMALIA (Amisom)
Truly it's real diversity because of color, religion, culture, work, languages and experience.
So it was lucky period to live in such condition.it was the best time for me to acquire divers knowledge.
Now,I work in my company of course but because i backed in my country I'm working the same way but not acquiring the same experience as the time.
Why? I'm with my colleagues,same kind of people, culture, language and nearly the same perspective.
Thanks.
In this moment i work in a place where there are people of the same nationality, and for me is not a good thing, because by my experience, i’m more happy when i work or when i talk with people from different place on earth or with different culture, because it’s most interesing for me talk with people that have different point of view that are conditionated from the place where they live. The diversity of persons are very important for development of fresh and functionality ideas.
diversity is an important thing when you talk about a big team even if it has some cons like a lot of ideas that you have to choose one of them and that take so much time.
On the other hand, diversity has pros more than cons like having ideas from different cultures and a team that is stone and has the capability of talking with a lot of languages
unfortunately there aren't divers nationality in our country. the culture of cities are divers but again unfortunately people often people don't migrate to another city to live and work. people try to have their work in their own city.
I'll talk about my college years, We were divided into groups of 6 average to work on researching and doing reports and presentations, we were all the same religion and nationality however, we had some kind of diversity as everyone of us had his/her own thoughts, And it helped us much to get creative ideas obviously .