Question

Read the following scenario and identify the biggest reason that this communicator fails. Jamie learns from her first mistake, but she still needs to talk with Mr. Johnson about her grade on the last test. She schedules a time to meet him, and at the meeting, she states: 'Why did you give me a bad grade on my test? It's unfair.' What is the biggest reason that this communicator fails?

1) Task does not inform approach
2) The communication isn't honest
3) The individual receiving the communication is not considered

Answer 1

Jamie's communication fails due to not considering Mr. Johnson's perspective, making her approach seem accusatory rather than seeking understanding.

Step-by-step explanation:

The biggest reason that this communicator, Jamie, fails in her approach to discussing her grade with Mr. Johnson is 3) The individual receiving the communication is not considered. Jamie's approach with the question 'Why did you give me a bad grade on my test? It's unfair.' implies an accusation and fails to consider the perspective or feelings of Mr. Johnson. Rather than opening constructive dialogue, it puts Mr. Johnson on the defensive and undermines the potential for a productive conversation.

In effective communication, especially in sensitive contexts such as discussing grades, it is important to frame the conversation in a way that does not assign blame but instead seeks to understand the reasoning behind a decision. This shows respect for the receiver's role and opens the door to a more detailed and helpful explanation that can lead to mutual understanding and possibly an improvement in the situation.