Communication Barriers - The Sword and the Millstone (Scenario)
Sandra Millstone, the CEO of Excalibur Manufacturing Company, concluded that the company would have to reduce its workforce by 10 percent at the end of the month due to declining demand for their products. She spent several hours preparing charts, tables, graphs, diagrams, and other visual aids for a presentation to the employees about the upcoming layoffs. Although the company's situation was uncertain, Sandra intended to tell the employees that the layoffs were a short-term measure and that the long-term prospects for the company were very favorable. Sandra hoped that the optimistic tone of the presentation would help employees understand the reasons for her decision and feel better about the layoff situation.
-As the employees began to leave the meeting room,some were overheard complaining about the fact that no managers were being laid off and questioning why it was always the workers who had to bear the impact of poor management decisions.Some were even more sarcastic,like one employee who stated that it didn't make any difference to Sandra if employees lost their jobs and that if the company wanted loyalty,it should hire a dog.These statements are probably the result of which barrier to effective communication?
A)selective perception
B)information overload
C)defensiveness
D)filtering

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Defensiveness is likely the cause of the employees' reactions. When people feel threatened by a message, they may respond with defensive behavior, such as complaining or making sarcastic remarks, as seen in the scenario. This defensiveness can stem from fears about job security and perceptions of unfair treatment, leading to a barrier in effective communication between Sandra and her employees.

Communication Barriers - the Sword and the Millstone (Scenario)