After reviewing a report that one of your employees has prepared, you think that some changes are required. When discussing this issue with the employee she disagrees with most of your comments, saying that she believes the report is better the way it is at the moment.

What should you do first?

In this question, you are facing a professional disagreement with an employee. Notice that the question asks about your first response - in other words, you are asked what would be your initial reaction, not what would eventually be the best solution. This implies that the question aims to assess your approach to this situation (your supervisory style), more than your actual problem solving strategy.

Responses A and B present a polite decline of the employee’s stand. This approach emphasizes your authority as a supervisor – you respect your employees, yet your opinion is the final decision. Both responses emphasize hierarchy, but response B emphasizes it more. In response A you explain yourself to the employee (saying that you gave the matter serious thought) and the rationale for going with your comments is that you find it important. In response B the rationale for going with your comments is that you are the supervisor and that it is you make the final decision(persistence). Response A creates a more flexible impression (by explaining yourself you seem open to discussion) while response B shows more respect for the employee’s feelings. However, in both responses there is no actual discussion and the approach is hierarchical.

Response C presents an opposite approach. In this response you take no authoritative stand; your approach is that of a guide. You are flexible, yet in most workplaces and positions this approach could seem to lack resilience.

Response D is the only one in which there is an actual discussion. Instead of a simple exchange of opinions, this response enables you to get more information, hear another opinion and think together with your employee (decision making - taking staff input). This response shows that you have respect for your employee’s opinion, while maintaining respect for your own opinion and keeping your authority. This is the best way to start handling the situation (the best first response) as it allows you and your employee further deliberation, while your final decision is yet to be determined and is still in your hands. This response demonstrates an approach that is more thorough (decision making) and open-minded (flexibility).

Different workplaces will prefer different approaches regarding authority – in some positions you are required to be strict, while in others an educational supervision approach (being a guide) will be preferred. We chose response D as the best choice because it shows that you take your subordinates’ input into consideration in your decision making. However strict or allowing you are as a supervisor, this competency is valuable as it enables you to make decisions wisely and shows better use of human resource.