Imagine receiving the following email from your CEO: We are getting less than 40 hours of work from a large number of our EMPLOYEES. The parking lot is sparsely used at 8 a.m.; likewise at 5 p.m. As managers, you either do not know what your EMPLOYEES are doing or you do not CARE. In either case, you have a problem and you will fix it or I will replace you. :-{{ NEVER in my career have I allowed a team which worked for me to think they had a 40-hour job. I have allowed YOU to create a culture which is permitting this. NO LONGER. :-| The note (paraphrased) continues: “Hell will freeze over before any more employee benefits are given out. I will be watching the parking lot and expect it to be substantially full at 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and half full on Saturdays. You have two weeks. Tick, tock. : (” 

Questions 

1. What impact would this message have on you if you received it? 

2. Is email the best way to convey such a message? 

3. What problems might arise if people outside the organization saw this email? 

4. What suggestions, if any, would you make to the CEO to help improve communication effectiveness?

5. What conflict-handling style is this CEO using? What might be a more effective style? Why?