COMM311 Real-World Connections: Episode 1, The Kickoff That Wasn't

Narrator: Real-World Connections. Episode 1: The Kickoff That Wasn't

Narrator: Amara's first kickoff call is at seven in the morning in Toronto. That's evening in Singapore. She's built a thirty-slide plan, and she talks through every slide.

Amara: So that's the plan. Any questions? ... Great. I'll send it around.

Narrator: Nobody says a word. Amara takes the silence as agreement. The next morning, three private messages are waiting.

Lucía: Amara, a small idea. We never talked about who we are or what we've each done before. Next time, can we have a real conversation?

Daniel: Slide fourteen assumes we ship in March. That isn't possible. I didn't want to say it in front of everyone on day one.

Narrator: And from Farid, just one line: "Thank you for the plan. When could we speak, just the two of us?"

Narrator: Amara sent a message. But did the team communicate? Your first reading reviews the principles of communication and three models: linear, interactional, and transactional. It also explains that communication meets physical, instrumental, relational, and identity needs.

Amara: I met my instrumental need. The plan's out. So why does this feel like it went badly?

Narrator: Which model did Amara's kickoff follow? And which of her teammates' needs did the call leave unmet?