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:
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:
Well I feel negative feedback or criticism cannot be taken with a smile unless that person is a very good or close friend. I may first evaluate how valuable is that customer for the company. Retaining a valuable customer would always be more appreciated. So, in order to pass the message I will converse with the boss when he is in good mood. To start with I would start the conversation with how that customer is important. Then will putforth the positive attributes of the boss which would work to get that customer for the company. Then will slowly put a word that I overheard about customer having issue with the boss;s odoure. If he gets offensive will politely apologize and tell him honestly how I felt that it was for the company’s benefit.
Organizers Feedback: Answer is good and liked the explanation also.
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:
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:
According to the given problem it seems that in laws had no or little clue about the expenses put on the house. So first I would tell them frankly about the expenses caused for building the house and my budget for the housewarming in keeping with expenses. I would try to tell them that how it would be too tight on our pocket to hold a grand house warming. If in laws understand then well and good. If they are not convinced then I may still hold a simple ceremony as there is no means we could stretch our limits. Ofcourse I will try to do some grand ceremony in the future and make inlaws happy when we are in comfortable position to do it for some other suitable occasion.
Organizers Feedback: Even if they don’t like if you want to do what you want then the core expectaition of you DH of having peace at home is nullilfied
Organizers Feedback: Even if they don’t like if you want to do what you want then the core expectaition of you DH of having peace at home is nullilfied
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:
First of all start finding replacement for these two people. Then have a separate talk with both of them again as in first problem, praise them for their positive strengths and then put forth how their egos are creating problem for the project. Ask them what they want to resolve the issue without affecting the project. Also give them soft warning. Try to assign separate tasks and try to not to have meetings where two people are involved until atleast the project is over. If still it affects the project and both don’t change their behaviour then better fire them and get replacements because anyway you are loosing time controlling both of them.
Organizers Feedback:The rule of the question we cannot find replacements so this answer is disqualified.
Organizers Feedback:The rule of the question we cannot find replacements so this answer is disqualified.
Situation 4 - @Friend Circle
Background:
You and X are very good friends. Our husbands are colelagues 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: If this situation really comes to me, then I would consider my child’s life more important than that friend. My husband don’t have to fight or complain but will gradually reduce mingling with that family and maintain distance. In my case my husband would totally trust my judgment and will just try to have cordial relationship with X’s husband.
Organizers Feedback: Again one half of the answer is attempted well. This is a nice way of avoiding conflict and correcting the situation. However your kid needs reassurance and needs to be spoken to.
Background:
You and X are very good friends. Our husbands are colelagues 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: If this situation really comes to me, then I would consider my child’s life more important than that friend. My husband don’t have to fight or complain but will gradually reduce mingling with that family and maintain distance. In my case my husband would totally trust my judgment and will just try to have cordial relationship with X’s husband.
Organizers Feedback: Again one half of the answer is attempted well. This is a nice way of avoiding conflict and correcting the situation. However your kid needs reassurance and needs to be spoken to.
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 drive away.
How will you live through the party? How will you fix this jealous lady for this embarrassment caused to you?
Answer:
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 drive away.
How will you live through the party? How will you fix this jealous lady for this embarrassment caused to you?
Answer:
Hmm what to do, I might get angry ofcourse but there would be no use of creating a big scene. I wouldn’t want to spoil somebody’s party and would take things sportively. Will just live through the party giving ppl explaination about the stain on the dress. and about that person..i will give her some benefit of doubt and let go the thought of the embarrassment until she doesn’t repeat any such thing again.
Organizers Feedback: Again well answered and liked the point of benefit of doubt
Organizers Feedback: Again well answered and liked the point of benefit of doubt
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