Diversity, inclusion and team working Flashcards
What is diversity?
The practice of including people from different backgrounds, with different skills and expertise
What is inclusion?
The practice of allowing equal opportunities and resources for people who might be otherwise excluded
What are the benefits of diversity and inclusion?
- Increased creativity
- Enhances problem solving
- Better decision making
- Broader skills and expertise
- Increased employer satisfaction
- Increased understanding of customer needs
Why does diversity provide high quality work?
Different areas of expertise contribute to higher quality of work, better decision making and creates a more productive team
What is workplace diversity?
Refers to the variety of differences among people in an organisation
Includes race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation and abilities.
What is more important, experience or diversity?
Both are valuable
Diversity brings varied perspectives, whilst experience contributes to expertise. Ideally a team will consist of a varied team with relevant experience.
How to have a successful team?
- Collaborative working
- Aligned goals
- Effective communication
- Equal voice for all
- No discrimination over competence
- Effective leadership
What is communication?
Exchange of information through verbal, non verbal or other means.
What is teamworking?
Collaborative effort from a group of people to achieve an aligned goal
What are the roles that are played to create a diverse team?
A variety of team members creates a diverse work force with ranging skill and knowledge, all necessary to create an efficient team.
Why does a diverse team produce high quality work/benefits?
- Varied expertise creates high quality work
- Better decision making
- More comfortable to voice opinions
- Understanding of customer needs
- Increased creativity
- Being more aligned towards the team goals
What are the benefits and drawbacks to teamworking?
Pros:
- Increased creativity
- Enhances problem solving
- Better decision making
- Broader skills and expertise
- Increased employer satisfaction
- Increased understanding of customer needs
Cons
- Potential conflict and challenges in decision making
- unequal participation
- accountability issues
How do you effectively communicate within a team?
- Equal voice for all
- Treat everyone with respect
- No judgement over competence
- Speak clearly and calmly
- Open body language
- Positive attitude
How do you effectively communicate?
- maintain eye contact
- Speak clearly and calmly
- Ensure what you are talking about is relevant
- Periodic and frequent check ins
Why is inclusive communication important?
It encourages support, and enables people to use whatever way of understanding to express themselves in a way they find easy and comfortable.
What is inclusive communication?
An approach to communication that recognises that everyone uses many ways of understanding and expressing themselves.
Enables as many people as possible to be included in the interaction.
How do you champion inclusivity within your teams?
- Work to identify problems
- Challenge options/own beliefs
- Collaborate with management
What is the equality act 2010?
A piece of legislation to legally protect people from discrimination harassment and victimisaiton based on their protected characteristics.
What did you learn from equality and diversity e learning?
- That legislation is important, such as the Equality Act 2010
- That everyone is protected under the Equality Act 2010
- About protected characteristics
What are the penalties under the Equality Act 2010?
Civil enforcement action or a criminal fine up to £5000
What is reasonable adjustment?
Duty for local authorities to make public services accessible for people with disabilities or other protected characteristics
What is discrimination?
Unfairness or prejudice of people and groups based on their group, class or category they belong to.
Such as race, gender, age, religion, physical attractiveness, sexual orientation.
What different types of discrimination are there?
Direct and indirect.
Harassment - Unwanted or offensive behaviour related to a protected characteristic.
Victimisation - Negative treatment as a result of being involved with a discrimination or harassment claim.
What is direct and indirect discrimination?
Direct - Action directly discriminates against someone because of their protected characteristic (e.g. employing a man over a woman).
Indirect - When you treat everyone the same but still someone is negatively affected (e.g. a policy of everyone working every other Sat discriminates against a Jewish person)
