Confronting An Employee

For an assignment in COM 480 I was asked to write a 1,000 word essay describing how I would handle the following situation.  I am a manager for a Computer Services company and one employee is receiving complaints from customers as well as co workers that he is not performing his job well and is confrontational.  It is beginning to cause a negative atmosphere in the workplace.  My job is to confront this employee.  Here is how I would handle it:

I will call this employee “Chris”. 

“You are more likely to have satisfactory outcomes when you think about a conflict ahead of time instead of going into it without thinking.”  (Cahn, D.D. & Abigail, R.A. Managing Conflict Through Communication. P. 71.)  Before I called the employee into my office, I would interview several of Chris’s co-workers.  During the interviews I would ask them to cite specific examples and I would document these discussions.  I would also have to be careful to do this in a way that didn’t appear as though I were looking for issues or that I was against Chris. 

Next I would create a profile of Chris listing both strengths and weaknesses.  This would be for my own personal use and not for other employees to know about.  I would anticipate responses based on personality type and experience with him.  Since I already know that he has displayed confrontational behavior I would be prepared for him to be as such when I confront him.  I would also “center” myself, make a decision to remain calm and stick to facts.

I would like to present this to Chris in a way that gives him an opportunity to come up with some ideas of how he could be a better employee.  I would also make a point of listening to his point of view without interrupting.  “Listening… is characterized by openness to the other person’s views, willingness to suspend judgement during the discussion, and patience to hear the other out.”  (Cahn, D. D., & Abigail, R. A. Managing Conflict Through Communication. P. 73.)  I think that during this stage I could build some trust and respect with Chris.  “People who feel listened to are less likely to feel attacked.”  ( Cahn & Abigail. P.74.) 

It is impossible to completely predict the situation.  Here is a list of my goals and ideas in approaching this situation.

1.       Think and analyze

2.      Gather information about the situation

3.      Know my place as leader and stay centered

4.      Be prepared for defensiveness

5.      Begin by telling Chris his strengths and then present the issues

6.      Listen to him tell his side

7.      Tell Chris how his behavior affects others, me, and the company

8.      Tell him what I want specifically from him without using threatening words

9.      Ask Chris if he has any ideas how this could be resolved

It is my job to confront Chris with these issues in a mature and together way.  His response is up to him.  He will have to live with the consequences either way.  I am going to listen and give him an opportunity to come up with ideas for change.  His response will determine whether he can continue to work here or not.

Media Options

Social Networking

     Social networking is the “grouping of individuals into specific groups.  Although social networking is possible in person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high school, it is most popular online.”  (retrieved on November 25, 2011 from www.whatissocialnetworkig.com).  Social networking includes cyberchatting,  Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, MySpace, FriendWise, FriendFinder, Yahoo!360, Orkut, Classmates, e-mail and more.  These are ways for people to use technology such as a phone, or computer to interact.  Some communication such as chatting is live.  People from different parts of the world can type messages to each other instantly as if they were in the same physical room talking.  This type of media appeals to those in the business world, online dating, young people who like to communicate this way, and just about anyone who has the technology has used one of these types of social networking. 

     One of the newest types of social networking is online gaming and interactive gaming.  People can play games in virtual worlds where they create an avatar for themselves.  These avatars can be created to look much like the person or completely different.  People log into these games and create whole virtual worlds with homes, families, jobs, entertainment, and more.  They can go to clubs dancing or to church.  Some say that these virtual worlds are dangerous because they are an escape from reality and could detract people from the real world they live in.  Others say they could be a benefit to physically handicapped people or those who are unable to have a fulfilling social life. 

     There are some things to be aware of with social networking.  There is always the chance of data theft and computer viruses.  Good virus scans can help with this.  But, the greatest concern with social networking is online predators.  There are those who misuse social networks to get contact information, meet someone in person, and harm them.  It is important for one to be watchful of this.  Overall, social networking is very safe as long as those involved are careful.

Personal Computers

In 1955 there were only 250 personal computers in use throughout the world.  By 1980 there were over one million and that number rose to 30 million by the mid 1980’s.  By replacing transistors with a tiny microchip, computers became smaller and more affordable for the everyday person.  So when Apple created the first home use computer in 1977, it began it’s journey into the homes of anyone who had the ability to buy and use one.  (retrieved on November 25 from:  www.historylearningsite.co.uk/personal-computer.htm)

     Today just about everyone is the developed parts of the world has a computer.  Some are stand alone upright versions and others are mobile such as laptops and notebooks.  They come in many different styles and sizes. The prices range from $100 to over $1,000. 

      The audience for these is quite universal.  They are used for typing documents, e-mailing, social media, gaming, online classrooms, dating sites, online shopping, research, excel spread sheets and all the things that can be done with those for personal and work needs, financial management, watching movies, reading news headlines, checking the weather in any part of the world, and so much more. 

     PC's have literally put the world at our fingertips. 

Print Media

     The two biggest types of print media are magazines and newspapers.  Newspapers have a quick turn around and are useful for finding daily information for sports and market conditions.  They include a variety of topics as well as local information.  The audience can go back and reread articles.  Newspapers are printed mostly on cheap paper in black and white but occasionally include other colors.

     Newspapers are geared more for local or regional areas and include information specific to those.  However there are some larger newspapers that do not address local issues at all unless they are of interest to a larger geographical audience.

     Magazines center around a specific category like cooking, gardening, hunting, or sports. All the articles in the magazine fall under one overall category indicated by the title.  The audience is specific to the category.  These are printed on high quality colored paper and can also be reread.  However they don't come out every day.  They are usually monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly. 

     Many newspapers and magazines are also available online.  Sometimes just a few of the articles are available online and you have to buy the edition in order to read additional articles that are not posted online. 

Radio

Radio has been around for decades and is still going strong.  Commercial radio broadcasting began in 1920.  It began to open up the world to everyone.  Because of it Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s speech on the day Pearl Harbor was bombed was heard around the country.  Now  people listen to it at home, in their cars and at work.  It is on their i pods, computers and other devices all throughout the day.  It includes music and news that is local, regional, and national.  Much variety is included.  It is a great way for businesses to advertise.  Radio has had great staying power for many years.  It can reach just about any audience.  I recently heard about a radio station that broadcasts in Alaska and reaches people who don’t have access to any other type of media.  Many of them use this station as their only source of world news, entertainment, and local events.  So, radio has the ability to reach audiences who have no other source of media. 

 

Hero

On a frigid winter day in November, 2006 I stood on a tarmac. About 50 family members and friends stood in somber, silent groups. Two perfect rows of soldiers were lined up in front of me.  I noticed a female soldier, wearing a tan-grey skirt was shaking from the cold. Another group of soldiers moved the flag draped casket holding my brother from the airplane to the hearse. Stepping closer to my mother, I slipped my arm through hers to remind her I was there and glanced over at two blond haired children whose watery blue eyes were now our lingering reflection of their father. My emotions welled up within me and all I wanted to do was run up to the casket and throw myself on it. How I longed to be as close to him as I could get!  My goodness!  How I love him!   Instead I pulled my scarf up to wipe tears and could do nothing but watch as he was loaded into the hearse and the doors were shut.

As we drove along in the procession, I was amazed to see hundreds of people lining the streets and holding American flags. I remember thinking, "Jim would never believe this!" He was the last person to think he was something special. In fact, most of the time he felt inadequate.

In the weeks after the funeral my family was blessed to receive many letters, phone calls, and e-mails from people telling us of things Jim had done for them. A lady he worked with explained how she had been going through a hard time. Her husband was in Iraq while she was home with four children and under incredible stress. When Jim found out he recruited a friend, went to Home Depot to buy supplies, and spent the next couple weeks building a rec room in her basement. It was all at his own expense. Any time my mother needed anything, he would jump to her aid. Once with my children and his, he built a snow fort, ran an extension cord to it, and strung Christmas lights in it. He spent the last week home before he left for Iraq at my house helping us put a new roof on our garage. When I told him he didn't have to spend his last week working at my house, he said, "Lis, this is where I want to be today." End of subject.  And how many people can remember how he would never pay them a visit empty handed? ... even if it was just a bottle of flavored coffee creamer (Coconut Cream).

After his death, I did a lot of reflecting. Yes, Jim was a hero for taking a bullet to his heart while doing his duty as a soldier and an American.  Yes, he was a hero for his courage and committment.  Yes, his place in history is sealed as a war hero.  I have learned that it is not all the big things that makes one a hero.  It is all the little things we do for people and the way we care for the ones we love. Jim is a hero to my sons because he made a point to pause his life and build snow forts with them.  He made them feel like they were special to him.  ... Someday my family and friends will watch my casket being carried. I want them to have good memories like I have of my brother. And I realize that is completely up to me.

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