تفسیر برقراری ارتباط در ملاقات رئیس

Within the ‘Meeting the boss’ role-play it is very clear that, in this conversation, rapport is threatened at a number of levels.

Let’s talk about face first. Both participants’ behaviours make it clear that their behaviours are intrinsically linked to each other’s roles and qualities. The passion with which John speaks about what he has seen in the refugee camp, and then promotes the new equipment to Anne, shows that he defines himself through his role as a doctor. It is not surprising that he felt this role was being questioned when Anne talked about funding issues rather than about how medical work in the field could be improved. John will also have perceived Anne’s mention of the high rate of wasted medication as a critique of his professional abilities and skills.

Sociality rights and obligations are also to be considered here. John believed that he could use the meeting to debrief, that he’d be listened to and that he’d be able to tell Anne what the conditions were really like in the camp. Instead, John felt that Anne treated the interaction along the lines of a feedback or appraisal meeting, which made John feel that he was being told off in an especially patronising way. Anne also interrupted John a number of times, which will have contributed to this impression. John’s passionate style also contrasted directly with Anne’s managerial style.

And finally, Anne and John don’t have the same interactional goals. Whilst neither Anne nor John would have approached the situation with this intent, both can be said to neglect rapport. They use hardly any strategies to maintain rapport, such as acknowledging each other’s position, or general mitigation and politeness strategies. Anne only makes one attempt at enhancing rapport at the beginning of the conversation when she asks about John’s stay in the camp and praises him as the charity’s best doctor.

Do you agree with this commentary/feedback?

In your opinion, is this role-play an example of intercultural communication, despite the fact that both speakers share the same language background and geographical origins?