You notice your co-worker is unusually quiet and withdrawn during meetings, after being very active previously. What is the most socially intelligent approach?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
1) Speak to them privately to ask if they are doing okay and offer them support.
The situation indicates that your colleague was previously active but now remains quiet and withdrawn during meetings. This could mean that they are dealing with personal stress, workload pressure, or some other issue.
The best and most sensible course of action is to speak with them privately and offer your support, so that the problem can be understood and resolved.
2) Ask publicly why they are not contributing.
This could cause them embarrassment and make them feel uncomfortable.
3) Ignore it.
If the individual is genuinely in need of support, ignoring the situation will not be helpful.
4) Inform the manager that they are not performing well.
This is a harsh step to take without knowing the underlying reasons.
Therefore, Option (1) is the correct answer.