Pink - Team 8 - W19 - Ineffective Communication
Description
Our scenario is set in a youth mental health organization and involves Thomas and Rebecca who initiate the workplace conflict, as well as Raji and Kevin who contribute to the spread of this workplace conflict, and Amanda who is the third-party intervenor in this case. Thomas makes negative comments about Rebecca’s performance at work, her preferred work style, and her impact on the working environment overall. This gossip spreads from Thomas to Raji and Kevin, who then tell their close confidants and co-workers Alyssa and Nikisha. With this much chatter about the initial negative comments directed towards Rebecca, it does not take long before Thomas and Rebecca’s boss finds out about their workplace conflict. At this point their boss intervenes as a third-party in the situation and advises that their personal issues have no room in the workplace and encourages them to find a resolution to their conflict outside of work.
Thomas and Rebecca took this opportunity to make plans to meet for coffee after work and discuss their situation. During their time out for a coffee, Thomas started by taking responsibility for his actions and admitting to Rebecca that he had said those things to Raji and Kevin about her. He then told her that his comments stemmed from jealousy, admitting that he was envious of Rebecca. Rebecca, now having this information, was able to understand where Thomas was coming from, and in fact, offered back some information telling Thomas that she would have felt the same way if she was in his position. She also told him how his actions made her feel, as well as reassuring him that even if she was offered the promotion that lay at the source of Thomas’ jealousy, that she would not want to accept it anyways and offered him the reasons why. The third-party intervenor “followed-up” with Rebecca and Thomas’ conflict resolution by assigning them to work together on their next project.