INSTRUCTIONS: Using a blank piece of paper --->

1. Write the name at the top right-hand corner of your sheet of paper.

2. Write the course name on the top left of the sheet of paper.

3. Write the total of 3 + 16 + 32 + 64 anywhere in the middle.

4. Underline instruction 1 above.

5. Check the time by your watch with that of one of your neighbor's.

6. Write down the time of day you are completing this exercise.

7. Draw three circles in the left-hand margin.

8. Now underline those circles.

9. Sign your signature at the bottom of the page.

10. On the back of the page, divide 50 by 2.

11. When you get to this point in the test, stand up, then sit down and continue with the next item.

12. If you have carefully followed all these instructions, call out 'I have followed instructions!'.

13. Write the 5th, 10th, 9th and 20th letters of the alphabet here: ___________________

14. If you think you are the first person to get this far, call out 'I'm in the lead'.

15. Now you've finished reading all the instructions, obey only 1, 2, 20 & 21.

21. Stand up and say, "We're the greatest team in the World!"

How many of you actually read the instructions all the way to the bottom and how many attempted to do what the instructions said as you went?

DID YOU READ THE INSTRUCTIONS??????

Now how did that last sentence come across? Overbearing? Rude? Blunt? Just as if it were written in black ink in normal size font? How about if I yelled that across the classroom or asked in a monotone voice?

The art of communication is of utmost importance, as you can see. It also requires being able to communicate in more than one way, with different types of people, and in different settings.

Each student describes a time in which communication, or lack thereof, caused mayhem at work. What happened and why? How could better communication skills have made a difference?