M.E.E.T. on Common Ground

M.E.E.T. on Common Ground Speaking Up for Respect in the Workplace

M.E.E.T. on Common Ground 2001, Revised 2003 VisionPoint Productions and Alexander Consulting & Training, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of VisionPoint Productions. Those pages that may be legally reproduced will have the appropriate legal disclaimer referenced at the bottom of the page. This video presentation is based on original content and technical assistance provided by Alexander Consulting & Training, Inc., a nationally recognized human resources management training and consulting firm that specializes in fair employment practices, workforce diversity, conflict resolution and team building. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter. It is sold with the understanding that VisionPoint Productions and Alexander Consulting & Training, Inc. are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Table of Contents Introduction...1 Key Learning Points...1 Encourage Respect Worksheet...2 Reflecting on Respect & Diversity Worksheet...3 Situation 1: It's just an expression....4 Situation 2: Hey, it's just a joke!...5 Situation 3: She's old news. He's too green....6 Situation 4: I didn't understand one word....7 Situation 5: I'll let that one slide......8 Situation 6: You should see her 'qualifications.'...9 M.E.E.T. on Common Ground... 10 M.E.E.T. on Common Ground Worksheet... 11 A Plan For Creating a Respectful Workplace... 12 Next Steps Worksheet... 13 Pre/Post Assessment & Course Evaluation... 14

Introduction M.E.E.T. on Common Ground: Speaking Up for Respect in the Workplace is a thoughtful, straightforward program that provides practical skills that you can use to create a respectful and inclusive workplace. The program teaches you how to recognize and respond professionally and with respect in a variety of real world situations: It s just an expression How common expressions of speech can create friction It s just a joke How jokes can be okay within your own group but offensive to others She s old news. He s too green. How assumptions based on age or appearance can impact the working environment I didn t understand one word How people who share a language can interact in ways that make co-workers who do not know the language uncomfortable I ll let that one slide How casual statements can unintentionally reinforce negative stereotypes You should see her qualifications How assumptions reported as fact can damage reputations and productivity Key Learning Points During this program, you will learn to: Explain the benefit of mutual respect in the workplace Explain the importance of personal responsibility in promoting respect in the workplace Use the four steps in the M.E.E.T. model to help promote a mutual respect working environment Page 1

M.E.E.T. on Common Ground Encourage Respect Worksheet Part 1 1. Describe a time when you felt respected. 2. What was the effect on your feelings and/or behavior? 3. Describe a time when you felt disrespected. 4. What was the effect on your feelings and/or behavior? 5. Describe a time when you were respectful of another person. 6. What was the effect on you? On them? 7. Describe a time when you were disrespectful of another person. 8. What was the effect on you? On them? Part 2 1. In order to respond to the questions above, you used a definition of respect. What is it? For me, respect is: Page 2

Reflecting on Respect & Diversity Worksheet Introduction Respect for, and responsiveness to, individual differences are critical to developing and maintaining effective relationships in the workplace. Our focus on workforce diversity should not lessen the importance of demonstrating respect for individual differences, such as personal styles, work habits, physical characteristics, and life circumstances. It is also important to realize that many people have had experiences as members of groups, which have fundamentally shaped their individual identities. For these people, separating their sense of individual identity from their sense of group membership may not be easy, as the two are closely connected. In this exercise, you will have an opportunity to reflect on those things, which you feel shape your own sense of identity who you are. 1. What three things about you most represent who you are? a. b. c. 2. What are the three things that others notice about you most often? a. b. c. 3. How are your answers to questions 1 and 2 similar? How are they different? Why is it useful for you to think about this? Page 3

M.E.E.T. on Common Ground S i t u a t i o n 1 It s just an expression. Characters: 1. Meredith 2. Rich 3. Dave Key Points: Expressions, which are considered to be innocent and not intended to be offensive, may be offensive when they cross lines of different cultural experience When these cross-cultural misunderstandings occur, it is better to move away from closed door communication (right/wrong) and into open door communication that encourages exchanging meanings and exploring different perspective Either person or a third party may take responsibility to begin the M.E.E.T.ing conversation Page 4

S i t u a t i o n 2 Hey, it s just a joke! Discussion questions: 1. How did the older man Make Time to Discuss? 2. How did the older man Explore Differences? 3. How did the older man Encourage Respect? 4. How did the older man Explore Differences? Key Points: Rules that prohibit disparaging remarks include jokes associated with race, gender, ethnicity, religion and other related categories. These rules must be applied and enforced consistently, no matter who may be involved The impact of the joke or expression outweighs the intent of the individual(s) involved in the behavior We must be willing to listen, consider the impact of our behavior on others, and make adjustments in these kinds of situations Page 5

M.E.E.T. on Common Ground S i t u a t i o n 3 She s old news. He s too green. Discussion questions: 1. How did Jim Encourage Respect? 2. What does Jim say to get both him and Tina to Take Responsibility? Key Points: It is easy to buy into the general assumptions and stereotypes about age, race, gender, and other differences that exist in our society One way to avoid unfair and inaccurate conclusions is to question our assumptions Inviting others to question assumptions is a way to encourage respect and shift away from generalizations and harmful stereotypes Page 6

S i t u a t i o n 4 I didn t understand one word. Discussion questions: 1. What are other ways people might feel excluded? Key Points: Employees have a right to speak other languages in the workplace except when there is a specific job related company requirement to only speak English The sharing of a common language more often has to do with the ease of communication and social interaction than any specific intent to exclude, isolate, or ridicule others who do not speak the language Feelings of exclusion can lead to perceptions and misunderstandings that are harmful to teamwork and customer relations Page 7

M.E.E.T. on Common Ground S i t u a t i o n 5 I ll let that one slide. Discussion questions: 1. What is the potential impact of what Marge said? 2. If you inadvertently made an offensive remark, how would you like it handled? 3. Have you experienced a similar situation? What was the outcome? Key Points: Little things we say in casual conversation can grow into big things if not addressed We can help one another pay attention to the potential impact of our words Not speaking up can result in misunderstandings that harm relationships with coworkers and customers Page 8

S i t u a t i o n 6 You should see her qualifications. Discussion questions: 1. How often does this type of conversation take place in our organization? 2. What are the effects of rumors and gossip like this? 3. What are the potential impacts on the working environment if comments like Sam and Carl expressed were to go unchallenged? Key Points: Rumors stated as facts can impair relationships, damage reputations, and perpetuate stereotypes These conditions can lead to discriminatory practices including hostile environment or other negative consequences such as turnover and poor morale A respectful work place is one that discourages gossip and challenges malicious rumors Page 9

M.E.E.T. on Common Ground M.E.E.T. on Common Ground It s Up To Us to take advantage of our differences to help make us more productive more successful. To do that, we have got to make an effort to recognize and respond to situations where our co-workers or our customers do not feel respected and work to resolve them in a way that makes work a better place to be. Make time to discuss Communicate your need to M.E.E.T. Suggest a time and place Use a courteous and considerate tone Prepare a 30-second description of the situation Explore differences Explain the problem, situation, need, or concern from your perspective Invite the other person s perspective Reframe your statement to include the other side Encourage respect Demonstrate consideration for the other person s point of view Use open door communication styles Listen loudly Stay in the present Take Responsibility State what you need and your willingness to help the other person with what they need Establish alternatives and follow-up Reach agreement End on a positive note Page 10

M.E.E.T. On Common Ground Worksheet 1. List a past example where M.E.E.T. could have been used to promote a mutually respectful working environment: 2. Group example apply assigned letter from the M.E.E.T. model to your group example. Page 11

M.E.E.T. on Common Ground A Plan For Creating a Respectful Workplace We all must take an active role in creating a respectful workplace. This guide can be useful in helping us eliminate disrespectful behavior in our organization. First, examine your own behavior to maintain an environment free of intimidation and hostility. Control social interactions, so they do not interfere with productivity. Answer these questions 1. Does my behavior contribute to work output and/or mission accomplishment? 2. Could my behavior offend or hurt others? 3. Could my behavior be misinterpreted as intentionally harmful or harassing? 4. Could my behavior be sending out signals that invite harassing behavior? Second, review your behavior and that of others within the organization for evidence of conduct that violates company policy. Remember, harassment can almost always be traced to behavior that is already illegal or impermissible under some other law or policy. When disruptive or disrespectful behavior is identified, the three most important questions are: 1. Is this proper conduct or behavior in the workplace? Is it legal (in accordance with the law)? Is it in line with organization policy? Is it affecting productivity, teamwork, or customer service? 2. Could the behavior in any way be seen as discriminatory or offensive based upon race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, or disability? 3. Could the behavior have a disruptive effect upon an employee or organizational unit? (Remember, interruptions of work, even pleasant ones, can be placed in the disruptive category if they interfere with work activities.) 4. Act immediately to eliminate an offensive conduct or behavior. (Remember, you are a member of the work team; and it is everyone s responsibility to not only step in and correct disrespectful behavior but to actively work toward building an inclusive workplace.) Page 12

Next Steps Worksheet Part 1: Encouraging Respect For our vision of respect to become a reality, consider what has to happen in the organization, your department or unit, and in your relations with others. What should be started, stopped, and/or continued? 1. The organization should: 2. My department or unit should: 3. My colleagues, co-workers, and peers should: 4. I should: Part 2: Taking Responsibility 1. In order to contribute to the creation of a respectful work environment, one thing I will do is: 2. When will I do it? 3. Whom should I involve? 4. What will be the result (measurable effect or impact) of my actions? Page 13

M.E.E.T. on Common Ground Pre/Post Assessment & Course Evaluation Name: Date: Instructions: The program teaches you how to recognize and respond respectfully in a variety of real world situations. At the beginning of the session, complete the pre-assessment. At the end of the session, complete the post-assessment and evaluation sections. Part One Do you know how to recognize and respond to the following situations? Pre-assessment Post-assessment 1. Common expressions of Yes No Not Sure Yes No Not Sure speech that create friction. 2. Jokes that may be okay Yes No Not Sure Yes No Not Sure within your own group but offensive to others. 3. Assumptions based on Yes No Not Sure Yes No Not Sure age or appearance that can impact the working environment. 4. People who share a Yes No Not Sure Yes No Not Sure language who interact in ways that make co-workers who do not know the language uncomfortable. 5. Casual statements that Yes No Not Sure Yes No Not Sure unintentionally reinforce negative stereotypes. 6. Assumptions reported as fact that can damage reputations and productivity. Yes No Not Sure Yes No Not Sure Page 14

Part Two: Evaluation As a result of this training, are you better able to: 1. Explain the benefit of mutual respect in the workplace? Yes No Not Sure 2. Explain the importance of personal responsibility in promoting respect in the workplace? Yes No Not Sure 3. Use the four steps in the M.E.E.T. model to help promote a mutual respect working environment? Yes No Not Sure My overall rating of the presentation is: 5 4 3 2 1 Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs Unsatisfactory Improvement Comments for Presenter: Part Three: Application 1. Give an example of how you already contribute to a respectful work environment. 2. Give an example of one way you can incorporate the M.E.E.T. message into your day-to-day work environment. 3. What can we do (or stop doing) individually or collectively to contribute to a respectful work environment? 4. Identify one or more ways in which you will implement this training. Page 15