Sometimes evaluative statements are necessary. Which of the following evaluative statements is most likely to cause defensiveness?
A) "The quality of your reports does not meet the minimum acceptable standard."
B) "The quality of your reports has dropped from your previous level."
C) "If the quality of your reports does not improve, you could be re-assigned to a lower level position."
D) "The quality of your reports is the lowest in the organization."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Choice D is the most likely to cause defensiveness as it uses extreme language and is a direct attack on the individual's performance. This can put the person on the defensive and may not effectively address the issue at hand. Choices A, B, and C provide specific feedback on the quality of the reports and offer potential solutions for improvement without attacking the individual directly.

Sometimes Evaluative Statements Are Necessary