Communication Strategy
Q1.What are the physical and psychological listening barriers Pierce faced during the presentation?
Pierce had returned to work from his respite. His bad cold is still slackening him down. The excess of work has lastly fixed him up; Pierce is ready to go and have his lunch. Just then, Horton enters in for a presentation. The communication between the two is not efficient. Pierce has physical and psychological barriers in his listening. The time barrier is concerned with emerging, effective, and speedy channels of communication. When communicating with clients, and the process is time overwhelming, it proves to be a barrier. In this case, the piercer was prepared for lunch; thus, the presentation wasted and held him for his plans. Information overload, when working on too many tasks, the brain is overwhelmed, and decision-making is interfered with. Information overload can make the employee feel unreasonably dazed and stressed up. Similarly, it makes someone more frustrated and give up easily and need more time to make a decision. In this case, Pierce has an excess of work, which makes him run out of energy for decision making.
The emotional barrier has affected Pierce, he has not fully recovered, and his emotions are limited to his health status. Pierce’s response shows a lack of interest in communication. He is anxious about the disease outcome and the task force ahead of him. Anxiety affects how an individual brain manages the inventiveness and commutation skills. Lack of attention barrier results when someone’s mind is preoccupied with other things. This barrier makes a person unable to perform proper messages, listen, and interpret the information for a good response. The communication will, therefore, face a lot of challenges and become more ineffective. Pierce’s response shows signs of emotion that are built by anxiety and anger. There is no active participation in listening by asking questions on how the plan was drafted.
Q2.What assumption is Horton making about Pierce’s ability to grasp the situation?
Horton creates assumptions that Pierce is ready to discuss how forward the plan is for the new dam. He expects Pierce to have full responsibility as the president to charter the best way for the next move with the project. Pierce has to recover fully from his bad cold. Mr. Horton is not aware of this. He assumes that Pierce has returned to the job fully recovered, and it is his high time visiting his office following many trials of failure. As the president, Pierce has to prove the project before it proceeds to the next level; therefore, Horton shows more concern for the progress of the new project, and he assumes that the president has the potential to clear the way to the next level.
Q3. What could Pierce have done to prevent the situation?
Pierce is aware of his emotional status. He has just reported back from homesickness. His health is slowing down. He does not responsibly participate in the presentation as the president to chatter the way forward. Due to his inability to effectively listen and make a decision, pierce should request the organization to give him enough time to recover to the potentials of making a decision. He should also humbly ask Horton to make his presentation after the lunch hour.
Similarly, he can request Horton to give him a copy of the plan to critically analyze it during his free time to better understand the project before making a decision. Pierce had to remain calm throughout the presentation and ask questions for concern about how the management has been during his sick off. He could also refer Horton to his deputy for effective resolutions.
Q4. What is Horton’s shortcoming as a communicator that would complicate the situation for anyone listening to him?
Horton did not show his major concern to get into the office; we see that after entering into the office, he spreads his blueprint on the president’s desk and starts the presentation. He shows no respect to his boss as well to any communicator he may relate with. Introducing and seeking permission to proceed is the first step in communication as it creates clarity and direct attention during communication. Horton is not respectful and understanding. He assumes that Pierce can have a discussion and make decisions during his emotional health problems state. He does not sympathize with Pierce following his extended stay at home as a result of sickness. Horton has a hesitation in concluding. He does not give the president time to think and make an effective decision. He quickly wants to know if the project is efficient for submission, even without allowing for crosschecking.
The communication between Horton and pierce is highly affected by listening and communicating barriers. Both teams play a role in misunderstanding and lack of effective decisions. Pierce has been away from his office; he returns while his health is still compromised and unable to work. Horton, who has been trying to reach him, gets the opportunity to ambush him in his office. He disrespectfully approaches Pierces, who is highly emotional and cannot portray good listening skills leading to a poor outcome.