Diversity Inclusion and Teamworking Flashcards
What do you understand by the term Diversity?
Dictionary Definition:
the fact of there being people of many different groups in society, within an organisation, etc.:
Appreciation/ Recognition/ valuing the differences between people.
Treating peoples lifestyles, values, beliefs and cultures with respect.
Could also consider Experiences, Talents, Skills, Opinions
Personalities
What do you understand by the term inclusion?
Dictionary definition
“The act of including someone or something as part of a group, list, etc., or a person or thing that is included.”
Inclusion in the workplace is about ensuring that everyone feels valued and respected as an individual. Inbuilt into the culture of the workplace
People can come to work, be comfortable and confident to be themselves, working in a way which works for them, delivers the businesses needs.
Adds value to the workplace
What do you understand by the term Teamworking?
Dictionary Definition:
A way of organising work that involves people working in separate teams to do different tasks
Combined action of a group
Working collaboratively as part of a group to achieve a common goal.
Why is teamworking important?
Collaborative working can lead to better outcomes. Encourage innovation, overcome problems.
What makes a good team?
Collaborative Working and a Shared Mindset
Diversity and Inclusion
Good Communication
Respect - Supportiveness etc
Structure
Why might a team fail?
Poor communication
Lack of Leadership
Lack of Trust
Lack of Vision (including commitment)
Lack of Decision Making
Lack of Resources - Skills and abilities or physical resources. Lack of commitment
Poor Dynamics - Negativity etc.
What is Bias?
Supporting a particular person or thing in an unfair way relating to personal opinion
What is Conscious Bias?
Knowing you are being bias, intentionally.
What is Unconscious Bias?
Assumptions outside normal awareness or control
Make a decision based on false beliefs and assumptions including
thinking better of someone because they believe they’re alike
less of someone because that person is different to them, for example, they might be of a different race, religion or age
How would you overcome unconscious bias?
Having an awareness of unconscious bias
advertising a job vacancy in different places to reach a wide range of people from different backgrounds
getting recruiting managers to agree to make each other aware if they notice stereotyping
holding back some details on job application forms, such as the applicant’s name or sex (this is called ‘blind sifting’),
where possible, having one of the interviewers on the phone
at each stage, having more than one person sifting job applications, interviewing the applicants and deciding who gets the job
allowing time to make decisions
keeping a written record of why decisions were made
What model could you use to assess the dynamics of a team?
A model such as Belbin Team Roles
What are the Belbin Team Toles?
Nine behavioural clusters
Successful teams were made up of a diverse mix of behaviours. To build high-performing teams, we need to represent each of the nine Belbin Team Role behaviours at the appropriate times.
What are some Teamworking Models?
Belbin Team Roles
What personality type are you? How does this impact your teamworking?
D - Shaper - Challenging, dynamic, thrives on pressure. Has the drive and courage to overcome obstacles however Can be prone to provocation, and may sometimes offend people’s feelings.
They could risk becoming aggressive and bad-humoured in their attempts to get things done.
J - Strengths: Co-operative, perceptive and diplomatic. Listens and averts friction.
Can be indecisive in crunch situations and tends to avoid confrontation. They might be hesitant to make unpopular decisions.
Give an example of how you have used teamworking in your current role?
Working as part of a multi-disciplinary project team on a project to design an extension.
What is Tuckmans Theory?
The theory that a team must go through 5 stages before it is effective (lasting from the time the team meets until it disbands)
Forming - Team introduced and task allocated. Members behave independently at this stage. lack of trust
Storming - Excitement and good grace ended. Weight of the task settles in. Ego and Tempers flare. Need a strong leader to begin to emerge for guidance.
Norming - Things start to settle down working together to achieve a common goal. Few overlaps with storming, new tasks may cause conflict. Over the worst disputes settled easily.
Performing - Team hits stride. Confident and motivated. some teams may not make it here.
Adjourning - Disbanding off the team. May mourn if they have grown close.
What skills do you need to work effectively in a team?
Communication and Active Listening. Conflict Resolution
Problem Solving and Decision Making
Planning/ Organisational skills
Empathy and Respect. Awareness
Honesty and Reliability
What are the advantages of diversity in a team?
make it more successful
keep employees happy and motivated
improve ideas and problem-solving. Innovation and creativity
What policies does your firm have for Diversity Inclusion and Team-working?
Equality Plan 2020-2024
Staff Forums on equality and diversity
What is the Equality Act 2010?
Came into force 1st October 2010
Legal framework to protect the rights of individuals, equality and opportunity for all
Name some examples of pieces of legislation the Equality Act 2010 consolidated?
the Equal Pay Act 1970
the Sex Discrimination Act 1975
the Race Relations Act 1976
the Disability Discrimination Act 1995
the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006
the Equality Act 2006, Part 2
the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007
What are the Protected Characteristics under the Equality Act 2010?
Age
Gender reassignment
Being married or in a civil partnership
Being pregnant or on maternity leave
Disability
Race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
Religion or belief
Sex
Sexual orientation
What types of discrimination are under the Equality Act 2010?
Direct Discrimination:
Direct discrimination is when someone is treated unfairly because of a protected characteristic, such as sex or race. For example, someone is not offered a promotion because they’re a woman and the job goes to a less qualified man.
Combined Discrimination:
where a person is discriminated against because of a particular combination of two or more protected characteristics. For example, a policy preventing employees from wearing headscarves would discriminate against Muslim women
Why should employers be looking to improve Diversity and Inclusion within the workplace?
Legal
Moral
Business
