Question

Mike and Zach have been business partners for years in a small restaurant called Beauty & the Bistro. As business grew, they found themselves fighting more and more often. They remained friends, but each felt the other wasn't taking enough responsibility for the business.

One afternoon, Mike confronted Zach about some unpaid bills, saying, "Look, you said you'd take care of paying the bills this month, and now these are all going to get in late! How are we going to get supplies if our vendors don't trust us to pay on time? Don't you care about the business any more? I can't run this place on my own!"
Which of the following best rephrases Mike's concerns as an I-statement?
a. "Zach, I feel like you are not fully committed to the business because your choices are not good for us."
b. "Zach, I believe that you work hard and care about the business, but it is important that you focus on the details and not just the big picture."
c. "Zach, I know you care about the business, but some things just aren't getting done. There are problems we really need to fix right away."
d. "Zach, when you don't do your work on time, it makes me feel abandoned because it seems like you don't care about our business succeeding."

Answer 1

Option d best encapsulates an 'I-statement' that expresses Mike's concerns by directly indicating how Zach's actions make him feel without placing blame, thus fostering a more cooperative dialogue.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best rephrase of Mike's concerns as an I-statement would be option d: "Zach, when you don't do your work on time, it makes me feel abandoned because it seems like you don't care about our business succeeding." Option d best encapsulates an 'I-statement' that expresses Mike's concerns by directly indicating how Zach's actions make him feel without placing blame, thus fostering a more cooperative dialogue.

This option directly expresses Mike's feelings and the impact of Zach's actions on him, which is the essence of using I-statements. It conveys a sense of personal feeling without placing blame and invites collaboration rather than accusing Zach of not caring. I-statements are utilized to talk about one's own experiences and feelings rather than making accusatory statements towards someone else.