Delivering "Bad" News Tactfully and Effectively

For the purposes of a recent Communication Capstone Assignment, the following scenario was to be evaluated in terms of how I would approach an employee, the response I would anticipate, and which conflict resolution techniques I would use.

          The scenario reads as follows: You are a department manager in a mid-sized company that provides technology support services. You have ten employees who are required to maintain a high level of technical expertise and deliver excellent customer service. One of your employees, who has been with the company for two years, is performing at a substandard level and you have received numerous compalinst from customers and coworkers. In addition this employee has displayed confrontation behavior which has created a hostile environment. You must now meet with this employee and deliver an ultimatium regarding the need for immediate improvement or dismissal.

10 Surprising Ways To Offend People In Other Countries

          For a humorous glimpse into the ways one might offend others of another culture and, in this case, another country, check out this short YouTube video.  Awareness and a desire to learn are just two of the keys to effective intercultural communication. Enjoy!

Intercultural Communication - Awareness and Application Opportunities

          The article Ten Commandments of Intercultural Communication (2005) provided some great insight on how to overcome cultural barriers to effective communication.  The first step is to learn what is meant by culture.  The definition provided states that “Culture is a shared system of symbols, beliefs, attitudes, values, expectations, and norms for behavior. Subcultures, in turn, are distinct groups that exist within a major culture” (2005). 

          Cultures can vary greatly in four main ways (or “elements,” according to the article):  stability, complexity, composition, and acceptance.  These elemental differences affect communication, however, by following the “commandments” of awareness detailed in the article, one can be successful at intercultural communication.

Endings are New Beginnings in Disguise

Day one...
A job has ended for me.
On paper it is a job. A neat little answer to the question "Oh, and what do you do?"
I never viewed it as such.
My "job" was one in which I truly felt fulfilled and my needs as an idealist were totally met.
For more than three years I have worked with veterans, on their behalf.
What others have done for a paycheck, I viewed as an honor and a privilege, assisting our at-risk heroes, and those who have not accessed the VA benefits which are their due.
As a Senior student at Ashford University, I diligently applied my Communications studies to my position as an Outreach Coordinator and Case Manager and saw exponential growth among my clients and within the resource community. Unfortunately, the season has shifted and these skills must be utilized elsewhere.