Activity 1

Read the short stories submitted by the instructor. In a word processing file, key the questions and answers at the end of the stories. Be prepared to discuss your answers as a communication exercise in a group setting.

Activity 2

You are a member of the management team for WHAM Financial Services. You and the other six members of the team have been employed at WHAM for a minimum of ten years each. The CEO was recruited from outside the organization more than three years ago. The CEO is a “get-things-done” type with a dominant personality. He meets problems head on and has accomplished what the board of directors requested in terms of company profits and expense reduction. The management team meets weekly and sometimes more often depending on the issues. For the past few months you have noticed the CEO requesting feedback on issues during meetings and the following characteristics occur:

1. Interrupts speaker with an idea or thought unrelated to requested feedback.

2. Repeats ideas just given by the speaker as if he had not heard a word.

3. Physically preoccupied with note taking and side conversation while speaker was attempting feedback.

In your observations, you have noticed that the other members of the team are hesitant to give information or ask questions. It appears that improved communication is needed for the organization to continue functioning successfully. You become aware, in a discussion with two other team members that they are experiencing frustration and are losing their desire to even try to communicate or to give feedback. There seems to be an attitude of “Whatever the CEO wants is fine with me,” and a feeling that feedback is not really wanted.

In a word processing file, key the following questions and answers. Be ready to defend your answers in a group discussion.

1. What problems do you see in the communication behavior of the CEO?

2. What do you think might be the reasons for such behavior?

3. How would you feel about discussing your observations with the CEO?

4. Would you be willing to give feedback in this situation?

5. If the behavior is affecting the management team, do you think it would be affecting the rest of the staff? Why or why not?

Activity 3

Access the following web site: http://www.liberationpsych.org/values.html

Read Values for the World.

Set up a word processing file. Key your ideas about the following statements:

“Creativity is the hallmark of those committed to Beauty.”

“Through research, teaching, storing data, and transmission of information, those dedicated to this value ( TRUTH ) honestly transmit better knowledge to future generations.”

“People dedicated to the value of Justice are freedom fighters.”

“Everywhere there are simply good people who do the hidden tasks that keep a society from surrendering to those who are selfish and only think of themselves.”

“The value of love actually undergirds the other four values (beauty, truth, justice, and goodness), though it is not obvious on the surface.

Be prepared to participate in a class discussion on these topics.

Activity 4

Search the Internet for Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Set up a word processing file and key in the following information.

What is the relationship between Maslow’s basic human needs to business, professions, and communication.

Be prepared to defend you position in a class discussion.