Speak-up

Cheng used non-verbal communication to warn his supervisor about the software.

• True

• False

Cheng's supervisor was expecting Cheng to use non-verbal communication to warn him about his doubts over the software.

• True

• False

Cheng should have spoken up using tactful words.

• True

• False

Explain why Cheng didn't speak up.

Cheng didn’t speak up for four reasons.

1. He didn’t want his supervisor or the vendor to “lose face” in the meeting. If he challenged them, he believed he might make them look bad.

2. He wasn’t aware that non-verbal communication is not understood the same way in every culture.

3. He didn’t know which words to use in English to challenge his supervisor’s decision or the vendor’s information.

4. He believed leaders usually have better technical skills than their subordinates, which means leaders should be able to make decisions independently.

Do any of these reasons also prevent you from speaking up at work? What do you need to know and/or do to change?

Read page 32 in your work book and answer questions #6 # 7,#8,#9#10#11#12: (You have 1 minute for reading and 3 minutes to answer the questions.)

Pre-Task Questions

1. In your opinion, which one of the facts in the passage is the most surprising or interesting?

2. Rate the following statement: In my first country, safety in the workplace is just as important as time and money.

• Agree

• Agree somewhat

• Disagree somewhat

• Disagree

• Strongly Disagree

3. Explain your answer to number 2.

4. Have you ever worked in an unsafe way?

If yes, explain what you were doing.

5. Do you ever do things in unsafe way at home? If yes, explain.