Entry 14 - Chaitra Reddy SD

Situation 1 - @ Work Place
Background:
Imagine you are working in an IT firm. Your Job involves meeting with several customers along with your Boss. Your Boss is a good man and he is very supportive of your role and gives you a lot of space to grow. However he is not very good at receiving negative feedback.
Problem Statement:
In a recent customer interaction you have heard customer’s complain about your Boss’ bad body odour. They were saying that if they have to deal with it again they will consider stopping business. You overheard this conversation and were not given this feedback directly. How will you give this feedback to him such that the situation is corrected?

Answer:

Never Judge or accept anything that’s been overheard and not being said directly. Sometimes few things are said according to the context. We hear something in between and make our own conclusions. So it’s really not wise to convey anything that’s overheard to another person.
Organizers Feedback: We cannot ingore such an important message moreover the customer will NEVER tell such things directly. Situation not handled well.


Situation 2 - @ Home

Background:
You live in the same city as your in-laws and have recently bought a new home. This is your dream home and you have spent a little more than what you had planned to because this is a one-time investment and a few more thousands every month in mortgage was ok for this home. Now that the house is ready you have to consult your In-Laws (DH’s parents) for the house warming ceremony. Your in-laws are nice people and your relationship with them is cordial. (there are some grouses but that’s normal and nothing major).

Problem Statement:
At a dinner table your in-laws clarify that they want a GRAND house warming with all relatives – gifts and clothes in order. They have stated clearly that it has been a long time since they called any of their kith and kin and this is an opportune moment. You are totally shocked and upset because you want a simple home ceremony and want to minimize the cost of this event since you went overboard buying the house.

When you talk to you DH his comment is “Talk to them and convince if you can. I am ok either ways it will mean another personal loan but I would rather have a happy after math. Whatever you do I don’t want a fight in the family and want a happy situation so I leave it to you. Either adjust or convince. I will be neutral.”

What will you do – Agree to them or convince them and how?
Answer:

Any problem or an issue could be fixed by just discussing it with the respective set of people and letting them know your exact situation. So here in this context, I would try to explain them our financial status and commitments. Would also tell them that, now we can go with a small ceremony and latter when we are out of this situation ,wud conduct a pooja at home and do the needful to all their kith and kin as per their suggestion later .
Organizers Feedback: The solution might be on the right track but the explantion was lacking.


Situation 3 - @Work Place

Background:
Imagine you are a manager with 2 people reporting to you. Both of them have their unique strengths and need to work together to get the required result for you and the department. There are no other people with similar skills in your organization.

Problem Statement:
These two people could set a meeting to fire with their spats. They DO NOT get along well at all and a majority of you time is getting wasted addressing their interpersonal issues. Initially you thought these are small personality differences, but now its impacting your deliverables and putting your department in RED. You have to find a solution to this and ensure the tasks are completed on time. At the same time remember that it is not easy to find a replacement so it’s important to make them both feel important.

How will you solve this situation?

Answer:

Being Manager its really very Important to set the right standards about the work completion status. Strictly let them know the dead line and the completion status.
Instead of trying to talk to them individually, get them together to a meeting room and talk to them. Let them openly talk to each other , so that they both are aware of this current situation and why this un acceptable behavior between both of them. And also let them know how its affecting the deliverables and deadlines.
I would put them for few team building programs, where they would really try to work together successfully as a team.
Organizers Feedback: The solution is not as detailed. However the Team building activities are a very good idea and in the long run would help solve the problem.


Situation 4 - @Friend Circle

Background:
You and X are very good friends. Our husbands are colleagues and You got married at the same time and met as their wives. You have become good friends over these years. Your children are both 3 months apart and are 4 years old. You are really family friends and have known each other for the past 5-6 years now. You both have 1 boy each. The children play and study together.

Problem Statement:
Of late you have observed that X criticizes your son whenever you and she are alone with the kids. When your DHs are around she is very sweet and is complementing him but when you are alone and the kids are playing she is spitting a list of negatives about your child (when he is around). Initially you didn’t mind it since you consider her a foster mom. But you have started seeing you child becoming reserved and losing his spark in her presence.

Your DH has told you – “This is a matter between the women. I cannot fight with X’s husband for it. It will be silly. So find a way to discuss with her and solve it.”

PS: As a family you people are very close and cannot avoid X. You don’t want to break your friendship. But you have to correct this situation. How will you solve this situation?

Answer:

When we say very good friends, it in itself says u r open enough to discuss any issue with her. In a calm way, I would explain to her about her habit and the way she deals with my kid. She too has a son , so would definitely understand how it affects a growing kid.
Organizers Feedback: It’s a good idea to be open to your friend. However the other person's reaction cannot be guessed. So you must prepare you child to handle criticism as well.


Situation 5 - @A Party (Social Circle)

Background:
You are at a party with some common friends. One particular lady is envious of your dress and has made it obvious that you are looking unexpectedly pretty. You are secretly happy because this is your precious find and your love your dress (it’s a SALWAR SUIT) with all the heavy work.

Problem Statement:
As a part of the party dinner this lady accidentally spills SAMBAR on your dress. She apologizes profusely but you feel it was intentional. When you look around you don’t find another lady with your height and weight so chances of a dress change are remote. Your house is 2 hrs drives away.

How will you live through the party? How will you fix this jealous lady for this embarrassment caused to you?

Answer:

First things first, would try to clean up the mess if it’s not too much. And as u r with common friends, it should not matter much if u can get it cleaned & Stay throughout the party.
Regarding the Jealousy lady, we cannot really teach anybody anything in life . Rather we can show them what is right by our own actions. If I leave the party,its very obvious that I gave up and let that lady accomplish what she really wanted to. So I would try to clean up the mess and still enjoy the party . It’s the friends with whom I am partying currently ,so it’s what I am that matters not how the dress looks .and moreover Dress looks good because I wore it and not that I look pretty only when I wear that particular dress. By doing this , she would definitely understand that such childish act won’t fetch her anything nor can she spoil someone’s day. It’s all up to u to see and deal with the situation.
Organizers Feedback: Very wonderful answer - well thought through and presented well - concise and precise.