Chapter 10: Communication on the Job
On another chilly weekend in March 2017, I met Sarah, James, and Henri at their apartment in Oakland. Little did I know that one of James's old friends from high school, Alexander, was coming to visit and cook dinner for us that night. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "Alexander, I believe that you have met my best friends and siblings, Sarah, Angel, and Henri," James introduced. "Sarah, Angel, Henri, this is my best friend, Alexander from Freeport Area High School!" "I met you and Sarah at our high school graduation, Angel," Alexander remembered. "Yes, you did, Alexander," I happily replied. "Sarah and I are best friends!" "I cooked you all a surprise dinner," Alexander told us. "Come in the kitchen and see." "Oh boy," I happily stated. "I just love surprises." Sarah, James, Henri, and I excitedly followed Alexander into the kitchen. "Ta-da!" Alexander happily exclaimed. I was surprised at the meal that Alexander cooked for us- chicken fingers, tater tots, green beans, and carrot cake for dessert! "Oh my gosh, this meal is amazing!" I exclaimed. "This is almost like the day that Sarah, James, and Henri planned a surprise party for me on my birthday, and I was sad because I thought they forgot about my birthday." "But, I was able to cheer you up because I would never forget your birthday," James remembered. "You took me for a drive around Natrona Heights on a chilly, cloudy, and even snowy day like today," I pointed out. I looked down at my outfit. "Hey, I am wearing my exact same pink "A" shirt from that day," I stated. "And, you guys are wearing your same outfits, too!" "So much for forgetting Angel's birthday," Henri remarked. "The truth is, we would never forget your birthday, Angel," Sarah told me. "We just wanted to surprise you and make your birthday extra special and fun." "That's right, Angel," James agreed. "I did my part by taking you for a fun drive." We then sat down at the table to eat dinner. "You should have been there, Alexander," I told James's friend. "We ate Pizza Hut pizza and Dairy Queen ice cream cake, and I got lots of really neat presents from Sarah, James, and Henri." "Why didn't you attend our high school graduation ceremony with Sarah and Angel, Henri?" Alexander asked Henri. "I was too young," Henri replied. "I liked seeing my two female best friends sitting next to each other in the audience, supporting me," James reminisced. "We were going to miss you when you went off to college, James," Sarah told her brother. "Yeah," I then agreed. "Do you have a job, Alexander?" Sarah asked. "Because we have been helping Angel in looking for a job for her once she graduates from college." "And, we had our job interviews last week for Woodland Summer Camp," James added. "As a matter of fact, I do," Alexander replied. "I work at Five Guys Burgers and Fries at the PPG Plaza in Downtown Pittsburgh as a chef." "What are your experiences with communication at the workplace?" Henri asked. "I have to communicate effectively with my co-workers, which are waiters and waitresses, who take the customers' orders and I need to get the correct recipes to serve to the customers," Alexander explained. "I have to do the same with my customers and other cashiers at the South Side Goodwill, who are my co-workers," Henri agreed. "How is communication on the job different than communication at school or with friends?" Sarah asked. "You need to speak clearly, politely, and professionally," Alexander replied. "That means no slang words, swear words, or language used outside of the workplace." "I require my customers speak clearly and politely at Cafe Milano in downtown Pittsburgh," Sarah told us. "No inappropriate language at Cafe Milano, either!" "How do you build appropriate work relationships?" James asked. "I do exactly what my boss tells me to do, and I make sure the waiters and waitresses have complete, accurate orders from customers," Alexander replied. "I make sure I give customers the exact brand of the car they want at Auto Depot in Robinson Township," James told us. "It's my boss who tells me the exact cars to give away!" "I must tell you, James," Alexander stated. "Your BMW is so cool! I wish that I could have a car like that!" "I go visit Sarah at work every Friday," I told Alexander. "Did you know that?" "Yes, she does," Sarah told Alexander. "I do a very good job in serving her some yummy meals." "What are some tips for communicating effectively with supervisors and peers?" I asked. "I would be accurate, concise, clear, appropriate, keep track of them, and not get distracted by other things," Alexander advised me. "Good advice, Alexander," I agreed. "I have problems at Goodwill sometimes, and one of my managers, Jen, has to remind me of the rules." "Let me tell you about neutralizing conflict at work," Alexander continued. "If I have a problem, and I can't make it to a shift, I make sure to contact my boss immediately, or if I struggle with a customer's order or with my co-workers, I make sure to get complete, concise details, so I don't make a mistake and give customers something that is not what they ordered." We all looked down at our dinners. "Not that I did anything this time," Alexander admitted. "Speaking of which, James, can you do me a favor and drive me back to my mom's apartment, even if it's not quite my birthday yet?" I asked James. "Of course, Angel," James replied. "Her mom doesn't want her to take the bus in the dark," he then told Alexander. "That's understandable," Alexander agreed. "Even though, it is starting to get dark later!" "Thanks for a great dinner and evening, guys!" I thanked everyone. "You're welcome," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"