Priya Chauhan

ABS/PGDM/20/031
PGDM 20-22
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
ASSIGNMENT

Consider the following case and answer the questions that follow.
Vacation Denied
Your employer had told you that your recent vacation request was approved. Two days
before your vacation is to begin, you hear that your vacation request is now going to be
denied because of a new, large contract taken on by your company that affects the department
you manage. You’ve already made extension plans to travel and will lose money if you have
to cancel. Your supervisor calls you into his office and is about to tell you that he is going to
deny your time off. What do you do?

Q1. In such a scenario, write a formal mail to be sent to your manager as to how you
would “assertively” like to react in such a situation. Make sure that the mail has a
formal tone and each aspect of a formal mail is taken care of.
The content of body should focus on your four-part assertion message.
 Behaviour Description:
 Feeling Message:
 Consequence Statement:
 Request Statement:
 Final Statement:
 E-MAIL
Subject: Regarding my previous request for vacation.
Dear Sir/Ma’am
I am writing this mail with regard to my previous request for vacation that I can avail as a
part of my employment with this organisation. I have not yet availed my annual vacation
leave and wished to do this time.
Although you have already approved my request. But as I can also observe that our company
has taken some large contract for which my department is going to be affected. Needless to
say, that my work and job is foremost than any vacation. But as I have already made
extensions plans to travel, such as booked hotel and tickets which are all non-refundable and
by any chance if I will cancel them I will lose my money that I have already paid.
So here I am requesting you to not deny my already approved request.
I assure you that after returning I will do my best to fulfil my responsibilities that I will miss
while not being here.
I hope that this request will be acceptable.
Yours truly,
Priya Chauhan

Q2. Discuss the various communication styles with their respective features.
Ans. There are 4 basic communication styles:
i. PASSIVE: Passive communicators often fails to express their feelings or needs,
allowing others to express themselves. A passive communicator’s lack of outward
communication can lead to misunderstanding, anger build-up or resentment. At the
same time, these communicators can be safer to speak with when a conflict arises,
because they most likely will avoid a confrontation or defer to others.
Passive communicators often display a lack of eye contact, poor body posture and an inability
to say “no.” Passive communicators also act in a way that states “people never consider my
feelings.” But passive communicators are also easy to get along with as they follow others
and “go with the flow.”
For example: They will use such sentences
o “It really doesn’t matter that much.
o “I just want to keep the peace”
 ii. AGGRESSIVE: It is emphasized by speaking in a loud and demanding voice,
maintaining intense eye contact and dominating or controlling others by blaming,
intimidating, criticizing, threatening or attacking them, among other traits.
Aggressive communicators often issue commands, ask questions rudely and fail to
listen to others. But they can also be considered leaders and command respect from
those around them.

For example: They will use such sentences:

o “I’m right and you’re wrong.”
o “I’ll get my way no matter what.”
o “It’s all your fault.”

iii. PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE: Passive-aggressive communication style users appear

passive on the surface, but within he or she may feel powerless or stuck, building up a
resentment that leads to seething or acting out in subtle, indirect or secret ways. Most
passive-aggressive communicators will mutter to themselves rather than confront a
person or issue. They have difficulty acknowledging their anger, use facial
expressions that don’t correlate with how they feel and even deny there is a problem.

Passive-aggressive communicators are most likely to communicate with body

language or a lack of open communication to another person, such as giving someone
the silent treatment, spreading rumours behind people’s backs or sabotaging others’
efforts. Passive-aggressive communicators may also appear cooperative, but may
silently be doing the opposite.

For example: They use such sentences:

o “That’s fine with me, but don’t be surprised if someone else gets mad.”
o “Sure, we can do things your way” (then mutters to self that “your way” is
stupid).

iv. ASSERTIVE: This is one of the most effective communication styles. Assertive
communicators can express their own needs, desires, ideas and feelings, while also
considering the needs of others. Assertive communicators aim for both sides to win in
a situation, balancing one’s rights with the rights of others.
Assertive communicators can express their own needs, desires, ideas and feelings, while also
considering the needs of others.
For example: They use such sentences:
o “We are equally entitled to express ourselves respectfully to one another.
o “I realize I have choices in my life, and I consider my options.
o “I respect the rights of others.”