ERRORS MARKED IN RED AFTER CONSULTATION

Date: February 22, 1998
To: Peter Gill
From: Tim Seitz
Re: Responsibilities

As I explained to you at 9:00 a.m. today, your responsibilities have changed.

Your new assignment is to work on the implementation of the technology planning test LAN untill your situation is resolved. I talked with Sue James very early this morning to ensure that you would have tasks to keep you busy for at least a week. Sue said that there are many tasks involved in the LAN implementation and estimated that they could take several weeks to complete. At that time, I directed Sue to meet with you and get you started on some of these tasks. She agreed and assured me she would make time for you today. At the conclusion of our 9:00 a.m. meeting, I asked you to see Sue to obtain your new tasks. I also asked whether you had any questions to which you responded no.

At 5:00 p.m. this evening, I stopped by to ask Sue for an update on the tasks that she had assigned to you. To my dismay you had not made any attempt to meet with Sue to receive your new tasks. Immediatly I asked Sue whether she had been available. She said she had been in her office most of the day, and thought you were going to stop by.

Peter, surely you could have contacted her, especially since she assured me she would make time for you. I know you were here today, I don't know what you were doing, but clearly you did not do what you were assigned.

Now, first thing Tuesday, Feb. 23, I want you to provide me with a written explanation of why you did not do what you were assigned. Then, I want you to meet with Sue to obtain your new tasks.

cc: Jane Han
Chris Jones

REVISED CREATIVE DOCUMENT

Date:     February 22, 1998
To:         Peter Gill
From:    Tim Seitz
Re:         Did We Communicate?

Peter, did we understand each other this morning? I had thought you were going to meet with Sue James today to begin your new assignment, but she tells me you did not do that.

We need to resolve this situation. Please join Sue and me at 8 a.m. tomorrow in my office to discuss the following concerns:

  1. How do we understand your role in implementing the technology planning test LAN?
  2. What is the projected timeline to complete the LAN implementation?
  3. How do we see your new assignment fitting into your job description?

cc:    Jane Han
         Chris Jones

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SAMPLE OF BOTTOM-LINE CONSULTATION:

  1. What language can we help you select to invite employees to be part of the team, so that they will want to work for the good of the whole company and its profits?
  2. What words can we help you choose to focus on the situation - not the person- to avoid a lawsuit? There are 25 instances of the words "you" and "your" in the original memo.
  3. How can we help you establish a tone to encourage employee cooperation? Each paragraph of the memo aligns Sue James and Tim Seitz against Peter Gill; for example, "I talked with Sue James very early this morning to ensure that you would have tasks to keep you busy for at least a week."
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