Hello Students,

1. For this Forum, you need to read Part III “Communicating with Others Proactively” in your textbook.

2. Discuss the key elements of positive and proactive communications that are missing in the following workplace scenarios and any other aspects of the situation you feel need to be corrected (and why). Also, complete any tasks within the scenario.

(A). One-on-one supervisor with employees
Your peer (a first line supervisor at a major retail store) is conducting a performance evaluation of a subordinate in the break room, where numerous other employees are eating lunch. Your peer is raising their voice and noticeably frustrated with the employee. The employee is attempting to defend their position but it is obvious your peer will not let them get a word in edge wise. You notice numerous other employees shaking their heads. You decide to approach your peer (also a friend) and address what your saw. What do you say?

(B). Supervisor to a team
You are a team member on a major project for a defense contractor. Your supervisor has just called an urgent meeting to discuss the current problems with the projects progress. The project is months behind and slightly over budget. Most people feel it is due to the lack of resources (your project is the third priority). The meeting is in 30 minutes and you have no additional details as to the meeting content. Your supervisor routinely calls meetings with little or no warning, and then expects various employees to brief their portions of the project. When employees cannot brief their sections, the meeting is often canceled and rescheduled for after normal working hours to allow time to better prepare (words of your supervisor). You have had enough, you decide to email your supervisor and recommend a better way to conduct the meeting (be tactful).

(C). Supervisor with a manager.
You are the manager of a department at the local shipyard. You have 7 supervisors that work for you and run the day to day operations of your six divisions (your seventh supervisor runs the administrative and logistics staff). One of your supervisors continually disrupts planning meetings to discuss problems within their division. You have talked to them and counseled them several times about the proper time and place to discuss the problems. Your friend (a manager of another department) recommends that your move the supervisor to a less challenging division. What are you going to do? How? Why? Submit your answer in this Forum by clicking “Post New Thread” above. (Do not enter your answer in the Assignments section of your e-classroom.)