The M.E.E.T. on Common Ground™ Model / Diversity Training
It's up to us to take advantage of our differences to help make us more productive—more successful. To do that, we have to make an effort to recognize and respond to situations where our coworkers or our customers do not feel respected and work to resolve them in a way that makes work a better place to be. Use the four steps in the M.E.E.T. model to help promote a "mutual respect" working environment.
M.E.E.T. on Common Ground™: Hey, It's Just a Joke
Vignette Key Points:
- Rules that prohibit disparaging remarks include jokes associated with race, gender, ethnicity, religion and other EEO protected categories. These rules must be applied and enforced consistently, no matter who may be involved.
- We must be willing to speak up and let others know the impact of their behavior.
- We must be willing to listen, consider the impact of our behavior on others and make adjustments in these kinds of situations because the impact of the behavior outweighs the intent.
Bottom Line: Jokes and remarks in the workplace that ridicule people are disrespectful, even when they occur among people of the same.
M - Make time to discuss
Deal with a situation when you first become aware of a problem or concern.
- Communicate your need to M.E.E.T.
- Suggest a time and place
- Use a courteous and considerate tone
- Assess the situation and be prepared to communicate the issue in 30 seconds or less
E - Explore differences
Be open to other viewpoints; do not assume you know it all. Ask to hear the other side.
- Explain the problem, situation, need or concern from your perspective
- Invite the other person's perspective
- Acknowledge the similarities and differences that exist
E - Encourage respect
Encourage respect even when you don't agree or understand why a person has acted the way s/he did.
- Demonstrate consideration for the other person
- Use respectful communication styles
- Stay in the present and focus on the future vs. rehashing the past
T - Take responsibility
Take responsibility to take action. Model the behavior you want to see.
- State what you need and your willingness to help the other person with what s/he needs
- Reach agreement
- End on a positive note
- Follow up
M.E.E.T. on Common Ground™ will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to meet on common ground. It provides the understanding, skills and goals necessary to create and maintain a respectful workplace. When people believe that who they are and what they do is respected, conflict, tension, complaints, grievances, lawsuits and turnover go down—while retention, morale and productivity go up. The end result is a workplace where people want to come–and stay.