Theo told his boss, "Yvette, I don't understand it. Our first team meeting went so well. But, in the second meeting, things got pretty stormy. We were all blaming each other for our lack of progress, and hostility and conflict took over. Egos rose to the surface, and people began ________. Finally, we agreed to cool off and meet again next week to agree on our shared goals."
A)jockeying for position
B)developing closer relationships
C)developing norms
D)demonstrating discipline needed to meet our deadline
E)channeling their energies into performing tasks

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The word "jockeying" implies a competitive attitude and behavior, where individuals are trying to gain an advantage or improve their position at the expense of others. This behavior is often seen in situations where there is perceived status or power associated with a particular role or task, which can lead to conflict and hostility. The context of the sentence suggests that the team members were engaged in this type of behavior, which contributed to the breakdown of the meeting.

Theo Told His Boss, "Yvette, I Don't Understand It