Real-Life Decision Making
Since flowers are exchanged on all sorts of happy as well as sensitive
occasions, tact and diplomacy are two essential skills for florists. "Professional
conduct is of the utmost importance," says florist Janet McCleod.
You own a flower shop in a small town. Your store specializes in fresh
flowers -- specifically, beautiful roses. One afternoon, a young man you've
never seen before walks into your shop and strikes up a conversation with
you. You're surprised that you don't remember his face -- you know most everyone
in town. After chatting for a few minutes, you learn that his name is Brent
and he attends the local college. He looks at the shop and seems impressed
with the quality and variety of flowers you have to offer.
As you continue the conversation, he reveals that his family just moved
here from a nearby city. He says that he really likes your shop -- he is somewhat
of a flower connoisseur. Brent assures you that within the week he'll buy
some flowers. You hope that he comes back.
A few days later, the phone rings. Sure enough, it's Brent on the other
end of the line. You smile, thinking that you have found a nice new customer
who is sure to come back for more. He asks you to put together a fresh bouquet
of your nicest long stemmed red roses and have them delivered to a lady friend.
"I just met her a few days ago. I think she's someone really special,"
he confesses to you.
He asks you to attach a card to the flowers, with a few lines from a romantic
poem on the inside. When he tells you who to address the card to, however,
your heart sinks. He's sending the flowers to Cathy, the town's most sought-after
young lady.
You're sure that she has a boyfriend and that by sending these flowers
Brent will embarrass himself. Cathy isn't always nice to the young men who
pursue her -- she can be blunt when she isn't interested. You're sure that
the only outcome of Brent sending these flowers will be pain and embarrassment.
That's the last result you want your flowers to produce.
Yet you don't know if telling him that Cathy has a boyfriend would be appropriate.
Is it really any of your business? If you tell Brent, he might
take his anger out on you. Besides, it wouldn't be professional to tell him.
Still, Brent is such a nice young man. You'd hate to see his heart get
trampled on. What do you do?