Communication styles and their effectiveness in professional settings

Communication Styles

Statement of the Situation

When you asked me to pick you up at the airport, I agreed. I drove twenty miles to meet you and waited at the gate. The plane emptied out but you weren't on it. The airline couldn't give me a passenger list but they told me that another flight from that city was coming in three hours later. I decided to grab a bite to eat in the restaurant and watched TV there until the plane arrived. You weren't on that plane either. I grew concerned, but had no idea how to reach you. I had no choice but to drive home and wait. The next day, I saw you downtown and asked you what happened. You told me that you caught an earlier flight.

A statement of my reaction

I was first looking forward to seeing you. When you didn't come off the second plane, I grew worried and concerned. Then when I saw you on the street, my initial reaction was relief that you were alright. However, when you told me that you caught an earlier flight I felt angry, embarrassed, and hurt. I thought that it would have been nice if you had phoned me to let me know that you would be on an earlier flight and wondered why you hadn't tried to get in touch with me knowing how far the airport is from my house.

3. A request

I would like to ask you to think about how you would have felt if I did this to you. Please think about how long I waited for you and how worried I was. Also, I want to hear your entire side of the story. Did you not think I was serious about picking you up? Please let me know so that in the future we can have a better understanding of what to expect from one another.

4. An invitation to respond