Refusing Typical Requests

As you move through your professional career, you will receive requests for favours and contributions. You will not be able to honour all the requests you receive and will sometimes refuse requests. When refusing a request, first think about the receiver, and then determine the approach for your message.

When refusing typical requests,$.$

Consider the following scenario and refusal message, and then answer the questions.

Simone is the owner of a small chain of coffee shops, WhichBrew Coffee Company. She was recently invited to a local business luncheon hosted by the mayor of the city but will not be able to attend the event.

WhichBrew Coffee Company

$4356$ Bean Plaza

Blend, ON N$5$G $8$T$8$

$(333)349-3432$

May $13,2021$

Mayor Rajiv$$Nag

City Hall

$3495$ Galvin Boulevard

Blend, ON N$5$G $8$T$8$

Dear Mayor Nag:

Your hard work during your last $3$ years in office has made a difference. The downtown beautification project is a colourful success. The addition of potted plants, flower beds, and window boxes makes our city a lovely place to be$.$ Thank you for playing a key role in creating a pleasant destination for downtown shoppers and visitors.

Receiving an invitation to your downtown business luncheon next month was a privilege. Although I must decline your invitation, it is for a reason I am sure you can appreciate. WhichBrew is preparing to open a small chain of bakeries called WhatDough. The grand opening of our first WhatDough bakery is on the same day as your business luncheon. Since I would love to have the opportunity to visit with you, may I invite you to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of our second WhatDough location? I am aiming for the second week of August, but I will call to confirm the date and time.

WhichBrew and WhatDough are successful ventures because of your efforts to revitalize downtown. The customers who come into our stores are friendly and value this community. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you or to the city in the future. I will contact you next week regarding the date and time of our grand opening ceremony.

Sincerely,

Simone$$Garibaldi

Which refusal technique is successfully used in the closing of this message?

Ending positively with compliments and an offer of assistance

Ending with a statement discouraging future correspondence

Ending with an apology

What does the writer of this message do to maintain goodwill?

Promotes the remarkable coffee at WhichBrew

Provides an alternative time to visit

Implies the refusal rather than stating it outright