Fear Takes Its Toll on Feedback by Laura V. Page

When Laura visits her friend who works at a daycare center, she notices the kids are being rushed through lunch. She learns the staff has given up trying to change the situation. This story hones in on the need for organizations to create receptive avenues for employee feedback and input. The point of the story is “promote a friendly path for feedback.”

The Grapefruit Tree Lives On by Nancy Sprecher

In fourth grade, when asked what she hated, Nancy replied, “Grapefruit.” Given the task of finding something good about it, she decided planted a grapefruit seed. It eventually grew into a ten-foot tall tree, but not without numerous trials and tribulations. This story is about looking for the good in situations rather than focusing on the negative. With this attitude, it becomes easier to persevere through difficulties. The point of the story is “promote the positive.”

Late for Lunch by Laura V. Page

One day, Laura finds herself waiting for a friend who is late for lunch. She becomes frustrated. Suddenly, she recalls a lunch four months earlier when she was the one that was late. Instead of getting angry at her friend, Laura elects to model the wonderful words used with her when she was late. The point of the story is “frame your feedback to fit the facts.”

The Limits of Authority by Bob Shaver

Imagine Bob’s surprise when he discovers one of his 16 employees is falsifying work reports as county employee working with Vietnam veterans on their benefits. Bob does his due diligence and confronts the employee. However, he neglects to give the employee due process. The point of the story is “respect each and every right.”