Question

The weekly budget meeting at Leading Edge Productions is routine: same day, time, place, and participants. Charlie Burrows makes it a habit to arrive at every meeting ten minutes late. On Friday, as Charlie walked in, Hannah Robertson stopped presenting and sneered momentarily before turning back to the board and continuing with her presentation. Charlie ignored Hannah’s nonverbal communication signals and went to his place at the meeting table and took a seat. A few moments later, Charlie started checking e-mails on his cell phone. - What message is Charlie sending by arriving late to the meeting and not paying attention?

Answer 1

Charlie's behavior of arriving late and checking emails during a meeting signals disrespect, disinterest, and a lack of consideration for the team's time.

Step-by-step explanation:

By consistently arriving late to the meetings and checking emails on his cell phone instead of paying attention, Charlie is sending several nonverbal communication signals that convey disrespect for the meeting process, disinterest in the meeting content, and a lack of consideration for his colleagues.

Despite Hannah Robertson's clear annoyance, indicated by her sneer, Charlie ignores these cues and proceeds to engage in behavior that further indicates his lack of engagement. This can be interpreted as Charlie valuing his own time and priorities over the collective time and agenda of the meeting.

Moreover, by distracting himself with his cell phone, Charlie moves from passive non-participation to active disengagement, undermining the collaborative atmosphere of the meeting and potentially influencing the group's morale and productivity.