Human Relations in Organizations: Applications and Skill Building 8th Edition by Robert Lussier

Exercise 43

In this exercise there are 10 situations with 5 alternative statements or actions. Identify each as assertive (A), aggressive (G), or passive (P). Place the letter A, G, or P on the line before each of the five alternatives. Circle the letter ( a to e ) of the response that is the most appropriate in the situation.
1. In class, you are in small groups discussing this exercise; however, two of the members are talking about personal matters instead. You are interested in this exercise.
a. "Don't you want to learn anything in this class?"
b. Forget the exercise, join the conversation.
c. "This is a valuable exercise. I'd really appreciate your input."
d. "This exercise is boring, isn't it?"
e. "Stop discussing personal matters, or leave the class!"
2. You and your roommate do not smoke. Smoke really bothers you. However, your roommate has friends over who smoke in your room regularly.
a. Throw them out of your room.
b. Purposely cough, repeatedly saying, "I cannot breathe."
c. Ask your roommate to have his guests refrain from smoking, or meet at a different place.
d. Complain to your favorite professor.
e. Do and say nothing.
3. Your boss has repeatedly asked you to go get coffee for the members of the department. It is not part of your job responsibility.
a. "It is not part of my job. Why don't we set up a rotating schedule so that everyone has a turn?"
b. "Go get it yourself."
c. Continue to get the coffee.
d. File a complaint with the personnel department or the union.
e. "Why don't we skip coffee today?"
4. You are riding in a car with a friend. You are nervous because your friend is speeding, changing lanes frequently, and passing in no-passing zones.
a. "Are you trying to kill me?"
b. "What did you think of Professor Lussier's class today?"
c. "Please slow down and stay in one lane."
d. Try not to look where you are going.
e. "Stop driving like this or let me out right here."
5. You are in a department meeting to decide on the new budget. However, some of the members are going off on tangents and wasting time. Your boss hasn't said anything about it.
a. Don't say anything. After all, it's your boss's meeting.
b. "So far we agree on XYZ, and we still need to decide on ABC. Does anyone have any ideas on these line items?"
c. "Let's stop wasting time and stay on the subject."
d. "Let's just vote so we can get out of here."
e. "Excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom."
6. One of your coworkers repeatedly tries to get you to do her work with all kinds of excuses.
a. Do the work.
b. "I have no intention of doing your work, so please stop asking me to do it."
c. "Buzz off. Do it yourself, freeloader."
d. "I'd like to do it for you, but I'm tied up right now."
e. "Get away from me and don't bother me again."
7. You bought a watch. It doesn't work, so you return to the store with the receipt. The salesclerk says you cannot exchange it.
a. Insist on the exchange. Talk to the person's boss and his or her boss if necessary.
b. Leave with the watch.
c. Drop the watch on the counter and pick up a new watch and walk out.
d. Come back when a different salesclerk is there.
e. Create a scene, yell, and get other customers on your side. Disrupt business until you get the new watch.
8. You are about to leave work and go to see your child perform in a play. Your boss comes to you and asks you to stay late to do a report she needs in the morning.
a. "Sorry, I'm on my way to see a play."
b. "I'd be happy to stay and do it."
c. "Are you sure I cannot do it tomorrow?"
d. "I'm on my way to see a play. Can I take it home and do it later tonight?"
e. "Why should I get stuck here? Why don't you do it yourself?"
9. You believe that cheating is wrong. Your roommate just asked you if he could copy the homework you spent hours preparing.
a. "Here you go."
b. "I don't help cheaters."
c. "OK, if you don't copy it word for word."
d. "I'd like to help you. You're my friend, but in good conscience I cannot let you copy my homework."
e. "You go out and have a good time, then you expect me to be a fool and get you off the hook? No way."
10. Some people you know stop by your dorm room. One of them pulls out some drugs, takes some, and passes them along. You don't take drugs.
a. "I don't approve of taking drugs. You can get me into trouble. Please put them away or leave."
b. Grab them and get rid of them.
c. Take some drugs because you don't want to look bad.
d. Pass them along without taking any.
e. "Are you trying to kill yourselves? Get out of here with that stuff."
Objective: To improve your ability to be assertive.
AACSB: The primary AACSB learning standard skills developed through this exercise are analytic skills and communication abilities.
Preparation: You should have completed the preparation (the 10 situations) for this exercise.
Select one option:
1. The instructor goes over the recommended answers to the 10 situations.
2. The instructor asks students for their answers to the situations, followed by giving the recommended answers.
3. Break into groups of two or three and together follow the three-step approach for two or three situations at a time, followed by the instructor's going over the recommended answers. Discuss the possible consequences of each alternative response in the situation. Would it help or hurt human relations and performance? How?
Conclusion: The instructor leads a class discussion and?or makes concluding remarks.
Application: What have I learned from this experience? How will I use this knowledge in the future?
Sharing: Volunteers give their answers to the application section.