Write an essay which incorporates the answers to each of the following questions. You should rely on the material in the book Crucial Conversations for your answers. Using the language, methodology, and skills from the book will enhance your answers. In other words, don’t wing it. The best responses will be thorough, responsive to the question, and edited. Each question is intended to pint you toward a particular section in the book.

INSTRUCTIONS: Write an essay which incorporates the answers to each of the following questions. You should rely on the material in the book Crucial Conversations for your answers. Using the language, methodology, and skills from the book will enhance your answers. In other words, don’t wing it. The best responses will be thorough, responsive to the question, and edited. Each question is intended to pint you toward a particular section in the book.

1. As you plan for the meeting, you’re looking at the health of TLS, Pat’s long tenure, your own reputation as a leader. What do you really want for yourself? For Pat? For others at TLS? For your relationship with Pat?

2. What are your opening remarks going to be to Pat? In other words, how are you going to STATE your path?

3. As you start the discussion, Pat begins to get defensive, something you had anticipated based on past experiences. She’s labelling others as incompetent or unimportant, sarcastically making fun of the two attorneys who left as being weak, and denying that there is any real problem. What are you going to do in order to make it safe for Pat to remain in this conversation? At the same time, what are you going to say to make sure you stay true to your PATH.

4. As the conversation continues, and Pat continues to be defensive and deny any shortcomings, you are beginning to put Pat into the “villain” role. What are you going to do to move through this?

5. At one point in the conversation, Pat begins to cry. She seems to finally realize that this is serious and that she may indeed be let go. She’s feeling like this may be the end of her tenure at TLS even though you have not stated that. How will you respond?

6. After a productive conversation with Pat, you’ve learned that she wants to stay in her position for another two years, promises to attend a leadership development course, and will accept the bringing in of a new associate director. However, she also would like a raise, and a guarantee that she will be taken care of financially after she retires, since she has poured her life into the organization. As the board chair, you have the ability to decide using several different methods: command, consult, vote, consensus. Which one will you choose and why?