Music reporter for a newspaper

Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007, Prelude:

Part 2: Analyzing a Failure of Civility

An Example of Incivility

An example of incivility I observed occurred in a professional meeting between a team manager, "Alex," and a junior graphic designer, "Sam." Sam had missed a deadline due to a misunderstanding about the final requirements for a complex project.

When discussing the missed deadline, Alex initiated the conversation by saying, in a loud, aggressive tone in front of the entire team: "Sam, what on earth is wrong with you? This deadline was clearly communicated. You've completely torpedoed the schedule! It's utterly unprofessional and makes the entire team look incompetent."

Why It Was Not Civil/Appropriate

This interaction was highly uncivil and inappropriate for several reasons:

Public Humiliation: Addressing the issue in front of the entire team (rather than in a private, one-on-one setting) was designed to humiliate Sam and established Alex as a hostile figure. This violated the principle of respect and created a toxic, defensive environment for everyone present.

Personal Attack and Hyperbole: The language used—"What on earth is wrong with you?" and "utterly unprofessional"—was a personal attack rather than a critique of the work or process. It used extreme, emotionally charged language ("torpedoed," "incompetent") that was disproportionate to the offense and served to escalate tension.

Lack of Constructive Feedback: The communication failed to offer any useful path forward. It was purely accusatory, focusing on blame instead of problem-solving. Civil professional communication focuses on the behavior or outcome, not the person.

Suggested Ways to Handle the Situation Differently

The situation could have been handled with far greater civility, making the conversation productive instead of destructive.

1. Actions to Diffuse the Situation (Immediate):

Move to Private Discussion: Alex should have first said, "Sam, I need to discuss the status of Project X with you right away. Could we step into the conference room for a moment?" This action immediately models respect for privacy and signals that the conversation is about the work, not an audience for a reprimand.

Use Neutral Language: During the conversation, Alex should have opened with a factual, non-judgmental statement: "Sam, the final files for Project X were not delivered by the 3 PM deadline. Can you help me understand what happened and what the status is now?" This focuses on the observable fact (the missed deadline) and invites collaborative problem-solving.

2. Modeling Civility and Fostering a Productive Outcome:

Focus on Process, Not Person: Alex should have steered the conversation toward identifying the systemic breakdown rather than Sam's character. For instance, "I see there may have been a confusion about the final requirements document. Let's review the communication process for this project to ensure this doesn't happen again. Was the requirement document unclear, or did a scheduling conflict arise?"

Offer Support and a Path Forward: A civil approach acknowledges the difficulty and focuses on resolution. Alex could have concluded with: "Thank you for clarifying. We need to focus on damage control now. What resources do you need from me to complete this by the end of the day? Let's treat this as a learning experience for the team on improving our initial requirements briefing."

By choosing to be firm on the issue but soft on the person, Alex would have modeled civility in the face of hostility (even if the "hostility" was just Alex's frustration), transforming a moment of conflict into an opportunity for team improvement and mutual respect.

Sample Answer

Interview with Johann Sebastian Bach and a Discussion on Civility

Part 1: An Audience with Bach

As a music reporter, I've chosen to interview the monumental Baroque composer, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750).

I listened to two of his compositions:

Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007 (specifically the Prelude).

Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050 (specifically the first movement, Allegro).

Here are five questions for the maestro and his likely responses: