Diversity, Inclusion & Teamworking

Question 1

What are the 9 protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 1

• Age;
• Gender reassignment;
• Being in a marriage or civil partnership;
• Being pregnant or on maternity leave;
• Disability;
• Race;
• Religion or belief;
• Sex;
• Sexual orientation.

Question 2

What is the meaning of unconscious bias and why is it important to be aware of it?

Answer 2

Unconscious bias is discriminating against others based on pre-existing beliefs and stereotypes about different people based on age, race, gender, religious beliefs etc.

Question 3

How can firms avoid unconscious bias?

Answer 3

Firms can challenge unconscious bias in recruitment by listing roles in multiple places, blind sifting (omitting certain details on application forms) and ensuring interview panels include a diverse range of individuals.

Question 4

How can companies and individuals encourage diversity and inclusion?

Answer 4

• Considering how the business operates generally, including providing equal opportunities for all regardless of individual circumstances, beliefs, sex, race, disability etc.
• Promote the benefits of diverse workforces.

Question 5

Can you explain Tuckman’s five stage model relating to teamwork?

Answer 5

• Forming – where team members are still working as individuals rather than as a team. In this initial stage, team members get to know each other and how the team will function;
• Storming – as the team develops, it will encounter various teething problems and conflicts. These include challenging the team’s objectives, leadership, workload, progress and ways of working;
• Norming – as the team begins to resolve differences and overcome conflict, it will function more smoothly and operate more collaboratively towards common objectives;
• Performing is where the team functions effectively with structured processes and commitment from each team member;
• Mourning – this will be the end of the team, perhaps due to a project or instruction being concluded.

Question 6

What makes a team effective?

Answer 6

• Having a common purpose and clear objectives;
• Having sufficient resources, including a sufficient budget and personnel (with a range of skills);
• Team members having mutual respect and an understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses;
• Knowledge and expertise being shared openly;
• Team members being able to speak out openly;
• Having a combination of different personality styles among the team members.

Question 7

What are some of the common barriers to effective teamwork?

Answer 7

• Inadequate resources;
• Misunderstanding of objectives;
• Poor selection of members;
• The wrong mix of skills and personalities;
• Poor leadership;
• Wrong size (typically, teams of between five and eight people tend to work most effectively);
• Inadequate training.

Question 8

What is inclusive communication?

Answer 8

• Communicating in a way that means that the message is understood by as many people as possible, including those who are neurodiverse.
• Examples of inclusive communication include using a wide range of communication methods, using visuals alongside text, being flexible in how services are provided and using appropriate language (e.g., avoiding gendered language or stereotyping).

Question 9

What is the RICS Inclusive Employer Quality Mark?

Answer 9

• The IEQM is a voluntary standard designed to help firms in the profession gain competitive advantage and a diverse workforce.
• The IEQM drives behaviour changes by encouraging all firms, large and small, to look carefully at their employment practices and have inclusivity at the heart of what they do according to the six key principles of leadership and vision, recruitment, staff development, staff retention, staff engagement and continuous improvement.