M3D1: Case Study A Sensitive Worker

Introduction

Throughout the term, well be applying what were learning to specific situations, both case studies and real-life situations. In this scenario, we have an emerging leader who is new to giving performance evaluations and a very sensitive worker. Before you begin, review the course material from this week. Any of the articles will offer useful tips. You can also build on what you learned in Module 1 about motivation to aid you in your analysis. This activity aligns with module outcome 1.

Case Study

Your supervisor asks you to mentor a new employee, Tonya, and help her learn the ropes of the job. You’re excited by the prospect since you’re hoping to move into a management position yourself and your previous performance evaluation stated that you should seek out opportunities to coach and mentor newcomers. After two weeks, you see that the new employee has many strengths and skills. She is responsible and punctual. She takes initiative, having cleaned up and organized the community supply storage area, even unearthing two reams of badly-needed colored copy paper.

At the same time, you see that she is careless about details. She doesn’t adequately proofread her reports, so they contain spelling and usage errors. She doesn’t check back with you and the other person in the shared office to make sure that what she sent is correct. In addition, you’ve also noticed that Tonya seems very insecure, needing a lot of praise and occasionally upsetting others around her.

You want to give her honest feedback so she can improve her job performance, yet you are afraid she will react defensively and this might reflect poorly on your emerging skills as a supervisor.

– Adapted from Interpersonal Communication Everyday Encounters, 7th edition by Julia Wood

Discussion Questions:

• Imagine that you are rehearsing for your mini-evaluation with Tonya – a conversation during which you can’t allow your own frustration to get the best of you. Explain what you have learned about yourself, given the readings, that will help you converse in an effective manner in this scenario? In your daily work, have you been in a similar situation before either as the giver or receiver of feedback?  
• What do you plan to say to Tonya? Plan your introduction to the conversation and how you plan to broach areas where she needs improvement. How can you inspire Tonya instead of demoralizing her?