Real-Life Communication -- Solution
This was a real-life scenario that Tim McDonald had to deal with.
He is head butler of a hotel.
One of McDonald's guests had asked
him to buy a gift that would be going to Shanghai in China. The guest did
give McDonald a price limit and asked that the gift be a symbol of the country.
This
is how McDonald narrowed down his choices. The sweater was an option, but
it cost less than his guest asked him to spend, plus he'd said she already
had lots of clothes.
The picture of the Rocky Mountains would have
been nice, but could have been difficult for the guest to carry back to China.
Although it was only $5 more than the limit, the size was the deciding factor.
The
bracelet was a good option, but it cost more than the price limit set by the
guest. Plus, it wasn't uniquely American.
You chose the jade eagle
on the mountain. It was her favorite color, it was within the required price
range and the eagle was a good representation of America.
"That was
the most interesting thing that I've had to buy," says McDonald, although
unusual requests are common.
"You have to be very flexible. You may
get a call at 11 p.m. from a guest looking for a cellphone charger."
A
large part of a butler's job to determine his guest's or employer's
needs through good communication skills.