Question

Describe a small group situation that you have been a partof that experienced communication failures. Think critically about the experience. What was it that went wrong? How do you know? If you had thought critically about the failure in the moment, could you have done something different to change the outcome? If so what could you have done differently? If not, why not? Could thinking critically about your communication and being more deliberate from the start of a project help you to avoid future communication failures? how so?

Answer 1

Group situation was of event management

The situation considered here is of event management, where there was a mishap as a result of miscommunication. The event was of a wedding management, where, different groups were handling different aspects of the management, with band to flowers to venue. The venue team had completed their tasks with correct booking and availability, but had failed to inform the decorative team about the availability, as a result of which floral arrangements took much more time than had been anticipated. This led the event to ultimately start 3 hours later from the expected time, resulting in an extra payment for the venue, that had to be borne by us and not the customers.

The issue here was lack of communication which came from the mismanagement of both the teams. Even though the venu team did not inform, it would have been useful if the decoration team would have checked with the venue team time and again to be on schedule. The main reason was ego clashes between the two teams, which ultimately made a mess of the event.

In order to avoid any such situation in the future, I would expect hold counseling with the teams and education so that tjey would learn from this experience. Also, reinforcement has to be employed where the extra amount would be deducted from the salaries of these two teams. Further, I would ask them to solve their personal problems and if these could not be solved, I would ask them to keep their problems out of the professional arena.

On s personal front, I would want the teams to live in harmony and thus try to sort their problems.