Question

Maria's story: Consider Maria, a copywriter who is currently being held hostage to some pretty strong emotions. She and her colleague Louis just reviewed the latest draft of a proposal with their boss. During the meeting, they were supposed to be jointly presenting their latest ideas. But when Maria paused to take a breath, Louis took over the presentation, making almost all the points they had come up with together. When the boss turned to Maria for input, there was nothing left for her to say. Maria has been feeling humiliated and angry throughout this project. First, Louis took their suggestions to the boss and discussed them behind her back. Second, he completely monopolized the presentation. Consequently, Maria believes that Louis is downplaying her contribution because she’s the only woman on the team. She’s getting fed up with his "boys’ club" mentality. So what does she do? She doesn’t want to appear "oversensitive," so most of the time she says nothing and just does her job. However, she does manage to assert herself by occasionally getting in sarcastic jabs about the way she’s being treated. "Sure I can get that printout for you. Should I just get your coffee and whip up a bundt cake while I’m at it?" she mutters, and rolls her eyes as she exits the room. Louis, in turn, finds Maria’s cheap shots and sarcasm puzzling. He’s not sure what has Maria upset but is beginning to despise her smug attitude and hostile reaction to most everything he does. As a result, when the two work together, you could cut the tension with a knife.

Based on the provided story, advise:
A) - What would you advise Maria to do and why?
B) - What would you advise Louis to do and why?
C) - What would you advise their boss to do and why?

Answer 1

Maria should have an open and honest conversation with Louis about her feelings and concerns, while Louis should listen and try to understand Maria's perspective. Their boss should facilitate a conversation between them and encourage open communication.

Step-by-step explanation:

A) - What would you advise Maria to do and why?

First, I would advise Maria to have an open and honest conversation with Louis about her feelings and concerns. It's important for her to clearly communicate how his actions have made her feel and assertively express her desire for more equal and collaborative participation in team discussions and presentations. By addressing the issue directly, Maria can work towards finding a resolution and potentially improving their working relationship.

B) - What would you advise Louis to do and why?

I would advise Louis to listen and try to understand Maria's perspective. It's important for him to acknowledge her feelings and the impact of his actions on her. He should reflect on his behavior and consider whether he has been unintentionally excluding or disregarding Maria's contributions. By showing empathy and willingness to improve, Louis can help create a more inclusive and respectful work environment.

C) - What would you advise their boss to do and why?

I would advise their boss to facilitate a conversation between Maria and Louis to address the issues they're facing. The boss should emphasize the importance of equal opportunities for all team members to contribute and be heard. By promoting open communication and encouraging team members to work collaboratively, the boss can help resolve the tension between Maria and Louis.