Question

Ebony is a Marketing Manager. She's under tight deadlines and has instructed Mike, a Graphic Designer, and Marisol, a newly hired Digital Communication Specialist, to work as partners to promote an upcoming event.

Things are not going well for the pair and they’re in danger of missing of their first deadline. They seem disorganized and unproductive. Marisol is a process-orientated worker whereas Mike frequently gets inspired to make changes. During in-person meetings, Marisol and Mike will agree on a course of action and then Mike will send multiple e-mails, with little detail, changing what they agreed about. The latest e-mail only contained this:

                Forget what we talked about. See my 9pm and 4am e-mails from yesterday/this morning for what to do. Not hard. Ignore the 9:15 one. Stop flaking, Marisol.

Mike is frustrated that Marisol doesn't seem to do anything. Of the 4 items that they agreed in person she would deliver, she has only produced one. She complains to him that she doesn't know what she is supposed to do even though she agreed in person. For instance, last meeting, she told him:

             I said I'd launch a social media campaign this week, but you're too difficult.

Mike sent an e-mail to Manager Ebony complaining that Marisol was a “flake." Marisol, meanwhile, told Ebony that Mike was a "difficult person." Manager Ebony is frustrated that this talented pair is having difficulty working together and stressed about meeting all the other department deadlines.

Ebony calls both Mike and Marisol into her office. She says, "I thought you two were the most talented marketing professionals on staff. Based on your current performance, however, I'm not sure you're even functional. I am alarmed by your lack of productivity and failure to solve your problems. Get yourselves together."

1. Examine the language that Mike and Marisol used to describe each other to Ebony. How did the high level abstractions impact Ebony's perception of Mike and Marisol?
2. Re-write one of the high level abstractions that Mike or Marisol used to describe each other to Ebony. Use specific, concrete language that they could have used instead.

Answer 1

1. Examine the language that Mike and Marisol used to describe each other to Ebony. How did the high-level abstractions impact Ebony's perception of Mike and Marisol?

The high-level abstractions impacted Ebony’s perception in a very negative way. It makes her doubt her choice in assigning Mike and Marison the very important task as both are being immature in their dealings with one another. It brings out the frustration in Ebony and she’s feeling let down by the duo. Ebony perceives Mike and Marison as immature, unproductive, inconsiderate and temperamental.

2. Re-write one of the high-level abstractions that Mike or Marisol used to describe each other to Ebony. Use specific, concrete language that they could have used instead.

Marisol to Mike ‘I said I'd launch a social media campaign this week, but you're too difficult.’

Instead Marisol could have replied to Mike saying, ‘I said I'd launch a social media campaign this week, if we could work together on this in a more efficient, cooperative and understanding way’.

And, to Ebony instead of saying Mike was a "difficult person" Marisol could have explained that there are some differences between them and they are willing to work it out soon for faster resolution of any issues.

Mike sent an e-mail to Manager Ebony complaining that Marisol was a “flake."

Mike could have instead said: 'Marisol and I are experiencing some misunderstandings / miscommunication and are not able to see eye to eye on things.'