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 and background etc.
What are some of the advantages of a diverse team?
- Different ideas and new ways of thinking
- Different backgrounds bring different experiences
A diverse workforce adds to employer brand and 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.
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 meant by teamwork?
- A co-operative effort by a group of people to achieve a common goal
- In a teamwork environment, people understand that thinking, planning, decisions and actions are better when done co-operatively.
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 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 weaknesses
- 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 teamworking?
- Shared workload
- Improved productivity
- Improved quality
- Speed up the development of solutions
- Increase employee motivation
- Utilise different skillsets
What is the difference between a team and a 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
How would you go about selecting the right people for 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 atmosphere 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 fail?
- Poor selection of team members that do not meet the skills required to achieve an objective
- Inadequate resource, conflicting personalities and poor leadership
Do you know of any theoretical models relating to teams and how they operate?
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. The key stages are:
Forming (Specification of common goals and desired behaviour)
Storming (Conflicts and negotiation)
Norming (Consensus and team spirit)
Performing (Finding the balance of conformity and deviance)
Adjorning (Feedback and dispersion)
