How to do this drill
- Own the problem and acknowledge impact.
- Explain the constraint neutrally.
- Offer supported solution and genuine fallback.
Material
Your community centre double-booked the main room for a dance class and an information session. The smaller room safely fits the twelve seated attendees and has the requested screen, but it is a closer layout. The dance class cannot safely use that room. You must speak to the presenter, whose confirmation clearly names the main room.
Your tasks
- Plan acknowledgement, explanation, proposal, support, and fallback.
- Deliver a sixty-second conversation opening and solution.
Check your work
Finish the tasks first, then open the answer to compare.
Show the answer
Answer
Own the centre's error, validate the confirmation, explain movement-space constraints without ranking groups, offer the equipped smaller room with setup/contact support, and provide reschedule/refund fallback.
How to reach it
- Protect the other person's dignity.
- Make the proposal operational.
- Preserve agency with a fallback.
Evidence
Model support includes testing the screen, arranging seating, posting signs, and contacting participants; the presenter may inspect the room before deciding.
Review your attempt
- Did the centre own the mistake?
- Could the presenter realistically accept or decline?
Take it further
Respond to the presenter saying the closer layout may reduce privacy for questions.
