Communication @ Work
This communication principle means that once someone has received a message, you cannot completely erase its effects — even if you apologize later.
What is communication is irreversible?
A company’s shared traditions, expectations, communication styles, and “the way we do things around here” are collectively known as this.
What is organizational culture?
One of these is a physiological process; the other is an active, learnable process requiring attention and interpretation. Name them in order.
What is hearing and listening?
Both people show high concern for themselves AND the other person and work toward a solution that fully addresses both sets of needs.
What is collaborating?
A spokesperson is asked a difficult question, briefly addresses it, and then redirects the conversation toward the organization’s prepared key message. This technique is called this.
What is bridging?
An employee sends a suggestion about improving scheduling procedures to the department director. This direction of communication is being used.
What is upward communication?
Two coworkers raised within the same national culture prefer very different levels of directness when receiving feedback. This illustrates this type of variation.
What is intercultural variation?
Instead of asking “Why would you ever do that?”, you ask, “Can you walk me through what led you to that decision?” This second question is this type.
What is a sincere question?
Each side gives up something in order to reach an acceptable middle ground.
What is compromising?
Every Friday, a project leader reports what is completed, in progress, blocked, and coming next. This recurring business presentation is called this.
A supervisor needs to discuss a sensitive, complicated performance issue where tone and immediate questions matter. This channel would generally provide the greatest richness.
What is face-to-face communication?
Employees prefer detailed policies, clear procedures, and predictable expectations because ambiguity makes them uncomfortable. This reflects this cultural tendency.
What is high uncertainty avoidance?
Before deciding, a manager intentionally gathers multiple perspectives and examines the available evidence. This listening style is most evident.
What is analytical listening?
A manager shares an employee’s private personal information with coworkers even though the employee expected it to remain confidential. This privacy violation is called this.
What is boundary turbulence?
A company presentation teaches employees how to use new software through explanation, demonstration, practice, and a check for understanding. This type of presentation is being delivered.
What is a training presentation?
A supervisor needs to discuss a sensitive, complicated performance issue where tone and immediate questions matter. This channel would generally provide the greatest richness.
What is face-to-face communication?
Employees rarely question senior leaders publicly, titles matter greatly, and strong differences in status are accepted. This workplace reflects this cultural dimension.
What is high power distance?
A manager says, “I don’t need everyone’s life story — just tell me what happened, what needs to be done, and what decision we need to make.” Which listening style is most clearly being demonstrated?
What is task-oriented listening?
An argument begins over a deadline but shifts when one employee says, “You never respect my work—you act like you’re smarter than me.” The conflict has shifted primarily into this category.
What is ego/identity conflict?
One statement is primarily a planning statement written for the speaker describing what the audience should know, believe, or do. The other is the audience-facing central idea heard in the presentation. Name BOTH.
What is a specific purpose and a thesis statement?
An employee sends a sarcastic message intending it as a joke, but the coworker interprets it as disrespectful. This element of the communication model reminds us that the sender’s intended meaning does not guarantee the receiver will interpret the message the same way.
What is decoding?
Employees rarely question senior leaders publicly, titles matter greatly, and strong differences in status are accepted. This workplace reflects this cultural dimension.
What is high power distance?
A supervisor says, “You always submit sloppy work.” Rewrite the statement so it reflects the principles of constructive criticism discussed in class.
One example: "The last report was missing the Q3 comparison. Including it next time will make the analysis clearer.”
One employee says, “Just choose whichever option you want. It matters more to you than it does to me.” Based on concern for self and concern for the other person, this conflict style is being used.
What is accommodating?
A speaker writes this main point: “Training and cost.” Identify TWO problems with the main point based on the organizational guidelines from class?
It is a topic label rather than a complete claim, AND it combines two separate ideas into one point.