Diversity, inclusion and teamworking Flashcards
What is workplace diversity?
- Diversity in the workplace means that a company hires a wide range of diverse individuals.
- Diversity is often misconceived as solely multicultural matters; however, it also applies to diversity of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexuality, language, educational, background, etc.
What are some of the advantages of diverse team?
- Different ideas & new ways of thinking.
- Different backgrounds bring different experiences.
- A Diverse workforce adds to employer brand & company culture.
Please define inclusion in the workplace?
The achievement of a work environment in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully, have equal access to opportunities and resources and can contribute fully to the organisation’s success.
Why is diversity important in the workplace?
- It brings different perspectives and ideas to the company.
- It is beneficial to have all perspectives and viewpoints aimed at helping to calibrate, refine and define the company’s executions and services that it offers.
What is meant by the term unconscious bias?
The underlying attitudes and stereotypes that people unconsciously attribute to another person or group of people that affect how they understand and engage with a person or group.
Can you explain what equal opportunity is please?
Ensuring everybody has an equal chance to take up opportunities and to make full use of the opportunities on offer and to fulfil their potential.
What is the Equality Act 2010?
- A discrimination law which protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and equal society.
- The Act provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all.
What is meant by teamwork?
- A Co-operative effort by a group of people to achieve a common goal.
- In a teamwork environment, people understand and believe that thinking, planning, decisions and actions are better when done co-operatively.
(OR)
Group of people working towards common goal
What makes a good/effective team?
- A common sense of purpose
- Clear understanding of team objectives
- Resources to achieve objectives
- Mutual respect
- Valuing members strengths and weakness
- Mutual trust
- Willingness to share knowledge and expertise
- Willingness to speak openly
- Range of skills amongst team members
- Range of personal styles for various roles.
What are the benefits of team working?
Benefits of a Team?
- Shared workload
- Improved productivity
- Improved quality
- Improved customer focus
- Speed up the development of solutions
- Increase employee motivation
- Utilise different skillsets.
Enhance team moral
Enhance team output
Enhance productivity
Increase level of commitment
Increase communication
Increase the level of confidence
Difference between a team, group and committee?
- A Committee is a body of people appointed for a function.
- A Team is a group of people aiming for a common goal in good spirit.
- A team working is a group of people working on a common goal.
- A group has a various thoughts, works independently, not all involve in decision making.
How would you go about selecting the right people to join your team?
- Firstly, understand the task and identify what skills and experience is required.
- Review the existing team to understand the skills and experience already available.
- Select new team members to fill the shortfall; the dynamics of the existing team should be considered to ensure the new people ‘fit’ with the existing team.
How would you deal with an inexperienced team member?
- Provide encouragement and motivation.
- Draw up a plan to strengthen their areas of weakness.
- Give constructive feedback.
- Provide support where needed.
How do you promote open discussions within your team?
- Create a calm and relaxed environment during meetings/workshops to make people feel welcome, significant and at ease.
- Promote the ‘there are no silly questions or answers, culture.
- Encourage involvement from all parties - doing a ‘round the table’ for key topic points.
Why might a team failure?
- Poor selection of team members that do not meet the skills required to achieve an objective.
- Inadequate resource, conflicting personalities and poor leadership.
(OR)
Poor selection
Poor communication
Poor leadership
Unclear roles
Insufficient resources
Traning deficiency
Too big/Too small team
Do you know of any theoretical models relating teams and how they operate?
Tuckman’s theory. This model was first developed by Bruce Tuckman in 1965. It is one of the more known team development theories and has formed the basis of many further ideas since its conception.
Tuckman’s theory focuses on the way in which a team tackles a task from the initial formation of the team through to the completion of the project. Tuckman later added a fifth phase; Adjourning and Transforming to cover the finishing of a task.
What is the different between leadership and management in teamwork?
Leadership - Setting a new direction or vision for a group, a leader is the spearhead for the new direction.
Management - Controls or directs people in a group according to principles or values that have already been established.
What meant by team dynamics in the workplace?
Team dynamics describes the behavioural relationships between the members of a group. The dynamic between them includes how they interact, communicate and cooperate with one another.
(OR)
Unconscious, psychological forces that influence the direction of a team’s behavior and performance.
How can you improve team dynamics?
- Know your team and understand what motivates them.
- Focus attention
- Tackle problems quickly with positive feedback
- Define roles and responsibilities
- Break down barriers
- Empowerment
- Clear communication.
