Full Answer Section

Aisha’s Perspective: Aisha is highly stressed about the deadline. She provided David with detailed creative briefs and deadlines for specific design elements (e.g., logo concepts by May 20th, initial presentation template by May 25th, final visuals by June 5th). She has sent him multiple emails and messages asking for updates, but David’s responses have been vague or delayed. She feels he is not taking the deadline seriously and is putting the entire project at risk. She’s frustrated by what she perceives as a lack of communication and missed internal milestones, making it impossible for her to finalize the strategy and presentation narrative.

David’s Perspective: David feels overwhelmed and micromanaged by Aisha. He believes her briefs are overly rigid and stifle his creativity. He has been working on several iterations of the logo concepts and presentation design, trying to perfect them, but he also got pulled into an urgent minor revision for another client. He feels Aisha doesn’t understand the creative process takes time and iteration. He intends to deliver high-quality work, but he’s now working late nights and feeling burnt out. He also feels Aisha’s constant requests for updates are distracting him from his work, and he doesn’t want to show unfinished work.

Mwangi’s Challenge: Mwangi has just received an urgent email from Aisha, expressing severe concern about David’s progress and stating that she cannot complete her part without his deliverables. Simultaneously, he’s noticed David looking tired and less engaged in recent team meetings. He knows both are valuable employees but recognizes the escalating tension and the critical deadline. He also needs to ensure the EcoFoods pitch is a success.

The Simulation Task:

Mwangi decides to intervene. The simulation would involve:

1. Mwangi’s Initial Individual Conversation with Aisha: Mwangi addresses Aisha’s concerns, asking her to describe the specific issues and impact on the project.
2. Mwangi’s Initial Individual Conversation with David: Mwangi addresses David, inquiring about his progress, challenges, and feelings regarding the project.
3. Joint Meeting Facilitated by Mwangi: Mwangi brings Aisha and David together to discuss the project status, perceived issues, and collaboratively find a path forward to meet the June 10th deadline. This meeting would focus on:
   • Clarifying expectations.
   • Addressing communication styles.
   • Identifying barriers to progress.
   • Developing a revised, agreed-upon mini-plan for the remaining time.

Desired Learning Outcomes for Participants:

• Practice active listening and empathetic communication.
• Develop skills in mediating conflict and understanding multiple perspectives.
• Learn to separate issues from personalities.
• Improve collaborative problem-solving under pressure.
• Understand the importance of clear communication and setting realistic expectations for deliverables in creative processes.