Chapter Seven-How To Master Situation Reaction Test
This chapter has a detailed study of one of the most challenging situations of situation reaction test.
Chapter 7-SRT 1-While travelling in a train, he involved himself into a discussion. Nobody agreed with his arguments. He will__
(This is Chapter 7. To read Chapter 8, click on the button at the bottom of the page)
This is the first situation we have chosen for study. Please write your reaction on it quickly and only then read further.
Let us first understand why this kind of a situation will come during the situation reaction test. This kind of a situation will come to see how good are your interpersonal and social skills. It will also check how your behaviour will be with your colleagues in the future, especially subordinates. It will also check your conflict mitigation skills and how you handle differences with others. Let me explain this little deeply.
Generally, there are three types of bosses we come across in day-to-day life regardless of the field of profession. One category of bosses is of those who are just not open to the suggestions or viewpoints of their subordinates, especially when the suggestion/viewpoint is opposite to their own. If any event is being planned in the unit/office, and if any subordinate comes up with any suggestion, he is immediately told in a very rude manner that his suggestions are not needed and he should just mind his own business. If the suggestion of the subordinate is opposite to what the boss is thinking then it angers the boss all the more. An officer belonging to this category spares no effort in making it loud and clear that he is the boss and he has all the intelligence and knowledge needed to decide things. These kinds of bosses have a lot of ego and a very high opinion about themselves. Nobody likes these kinds of bosses.
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The second category is of those who behave artificially. If any event is being planned in the unit/office, and if any subordinate comes up with any suggestion (even if it is opposite to what the boss is thinking), then this category of bosses behave as if they are extremely delighted and will appreciate the suggestion a lot and even praise the subordinate a lot. The subordinate will become very happy. However, when the final day of the event will come, the subordinate gets to see that the boss has done what he wanted to do right from the beginning and not what the subordinate had suggested. It gets clear to the subordinate that all the appreciation and praise showered on him was purely artificial. These kinds of artificially sweet bosses are not disliked and hated by subordinates the way the first category of bosses are but then they too do not earn respect of the subordinates. They are perceived to be very artificial and sweet only in talking and to be the opposite from inside and in reality.
The third category is of those bosses who are honest and respectful in how they interact with their subordinates. If any event is being planned in the unit/office, and if any subordinate comes up with any suggestion which is really useful (even if opposite to what the boss is thinking), then this category of bosses will appreciate it with honesty and sincerity and will also ensure that it gets implemented. This category of bosses are always ready to hear other’s viewpoints even if they are opposite in essence to their own. They are always very open to discussion and listen to everyone with an open mind and without preconceived notions. These kinds of bosses do not have ego and are admired and respected a lot by their subordinates. These kinds of bosses go on to become good people managers and are effective leaders because they are liked a lot by their subordinates. If a subordinate likes his boss, then he will be willing to go out of his way to help the boss when any difficult situation comes up in the organisation. A unit which is having this kind of a CO is able to function very smoothly because the bond between the boss and his subordinates is very warm and healthy.
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Coming back to the situation in question, when faced with a situation where other members of the group are not agreeing with his viewpoint, he should have a very healthy and honest probing attitude. He should make a sincere effort to understand the opposite viewpoint and see if there is any substance in it. He should be willing to accept their viewpoint if they can logically prove that they are right and he is wrong. He should not feel bad or insulted when proven wrong. Rather, he should thank others for correcting him and appreciate them honestly. This behaviour trait is a sign of a very healthy minded person and is a very key quality of a good leader. It is for these very reasons that it becomes important for the board to ascertain that the candidate belongs to this third category.
However, most of the candidates have a wrong notion in mind that they need to be able to ensure that their idea gets accepted by everyone as that will reflect self-confidence and leadership. They will use words like ‘convince’ in their answer and that will clearly confirm that the candidate belongs to the first category of bosses mentioned earlier.
Let us first analyse the responses submitted by our candidates and then we will take a look at the model answer.
1) Ravi-try to keep valid points and convince everyone.
Analysis-A phrase like try to should never be used by the candidate as it reflects lack of confidence and lack of clarity of thought. It gives an impression that the candidate is perhaps not sure whether his idea will work or not but still he will try. The candidate needs to be a very clear minded and confident person who does not have doubts in his mind. Another problem with this sentence is how the candidate has just used the word convince and made it clear that he will ensure that everyone believes in what he is saying which means he wants everyone to follow him and what he says. He has not shown any willingness to listen to other’s viewpoints.
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2) Dhiraj-He will give valuable points and maintain friendly discussion.
Analysis-The answer does not mention anything about willingness to listen to other’s viewpoint. This will be interpreted as candidate not being open to listening to what others have to say. Indirectly, it shows that the candidate has a blind belief about being right and simply would not be willing to consider any viewpoint which contradicts his own. The answer directly talks about convincing others by giving valuable points. This gives a hint that in the future the candidate will go on to become an officer who would just like his subordinates to listen to him and obey him. The answer is confirming that the candidate belongs to the first category of boss discussed earlier. The answer is reflecting a very negative trait in personality and will go against the candidate.
3) Pawan-he will put another best point and convinced everyone.
Analysis-Again, this answer is also talking about convincing others without being open to hearing what they have to say. This shows an authoritarian and dictatorial approach. The answer will go against the candidate.
4) Shrey-let it pass by saying everyone has their own perception.
Analysis-The answer reflects a lack of willingness to discuss things meaningfully. Such a flight kind of a mentality will never help at workplace. Communication is very important in all spheres of life. On top of it, such lack of willingness to engage in a mannerly discussion also reflects a certain dullness in the candidate’s personality. It shows that the candidate is low on energy and enthusiasm in his personality. The candidate lacks liveliness. It even shows a slight disrespect for others by making it sound like there is no meaning in arguing with these people; they are all idiots. For all these reasons, the answer will go against the candidate.
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5) Peeyush-prove the facts and make everyone realise the truth.
Analysis-Again, this answer also does not reflect any willingness to hear what others have to say. Candidate talks about proving himself right without even considering the possibility that others may be right. It shows a blind belief in self and that reflects ego and high opinion about self. The other negative thing about the answer is the use of the word make. The word make is a very commanding and authoritarian word in these kinds of answers. A better word to use in these kinds of answers is help. By writing help them understand, the candidate will display mannerly approach, good behaviour and respect for others whereas writing make them understand shows a very commanding, dominating and authoritarian tone. This is exactly how candidates convey negative points about themselves without even realising it.
6) Tarun-Listened to others point, put his argument with proper reason and convinced them.
Analysis-The answer started on a very positive note but then ended up giving a very negative impression. Let me explain how. The candidate started by writing about wanting to listen to other’s viewpoint but after that he did not talk about whether he evaluated their viewpoint sincerely. After evaluation, if he realised that their point was valid, did he accept their point? Nothing has been mentioned about this. The very next thing which has been mentioned is about putting his argument forward with proper reason. Rather than talking about evaluating and accepting the viewpoint of other’s, he has directly written about putting his argument forward.
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This will convey that the candidate listened to the viewpoint of others only for the sake of it and had no intention of gauging whether they are right or wrong. This is the very artificial behaviour I had mentioned about earlier. Lastly, the answer mentions convincing everyone. So, this clearly shows that the candidate believes blindly in himself and would like others to obey him. The impression in front of the assessor will be that the candidate firmly believes he can never be wrong. For all these reasons, the answer will go against the candidate.
7) Priya-persuade his fellow passengers with facts and examples supporting his statement and bring them into argument.
Analysis-Again, even this answer only talks about proving himself right and convincing others. There is nothing wrong with supporting your argument with facts. However, it will look better if before doing that, we hear from others what they have to say. One more thing we need to understand clearly is that the situation uses the word argument. Argument means logic. Argument means reason. So, the situation is talking about your logic, reason and way of looking at things. It is not specifically about a fact. It is more about your way of thinking. So, if the candidate will write about facts and examples in the answer, it may not relate clearly to the situation in question. Please note this. It is very important. Since the situation talks about reason, logic and way of life, it becomes very important that we be open to listening to the logic and reasoning of others as well. If it would have been a simple knowledge-based argument then writing about convincing with proof would have been ideal. However, the situation is not about facts. Overall, the answer written by the candidate will not prove useful during the evaluation process.
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8) Sahil-improve his points of discussion and put them in front of people courageously.
Analysis-Even apart from the fact that this answer is also only talking about telling others what the candidate thinks, the sentence has one very negative element. The use of the word courageously makes it look like the candidate needs some sort of special courage to be able to just have a normal discussion with ordinary fellow passengers. What does this convey about the candidate? The answer gives a hint that perhaps the candidate is very nervous and hesitant even when talking to ordinary fellow passengers. It shows how the candidate is a very low confidence person and lacks courage even for the most basic things of life. The answer has other negative elements as well showing the lack of willingness to hear what others have to say. This, in turn, would reflect ego and a high opinion about self. For all these reasons, the answer will go against the candidate.
9) Nitin-he will try to convince them by reasonable talk and will listen to others also.
Analysis-The use of the words try to shows lack of confidence and lack of clarity of thought. The other problem with the sentence is that it talks about convincing as the first thing to do and then at the end it talks about listening to others. If you have already convinced others then what is the point listening to them? Doing this kind of a thing shows artificial behaviour. By behaving like this, a person also shows how he considers others as some sort of lesser beings who are inferior to him. It shows disrespect for others. For all these reasons, the answer will generate a negative impression.
10) Rohit-he will give examples and prove it his words.
Analysis-Slight grammatical issue but let us not get into it. The answer is like many other answers discussed earlier and will not help the candidate.
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Model Answer: Listen and evaluate other’s viewpoints, accept their valid points. Modify and present his argument.
The answer starts with the very word listen followed by another word evaluate. These words confirm that when the candidate is faced with a situation where others have a viewpoint that differs from his own, the first thing he does is that he listens to their viewpoint. The use of the word evaluate confirms that he is listening to them with utmost honesty and sincerity and not merely for the sake of it in an artificial manner. He accepts their valid point shows he has no ego and is ready to accept things if presented logically. It is a sign not only of wisdom but also of a good team player. By using the word modifying and not using the word changed, it is clear that he is not a low confidence person and will accept only those points which seem logical to him. He will not change his viewpoint if the counter argument presented is not convincing. This way it even shows that he is a level headed individual who knows how to stand his ground when he knows he is right. So, by the end of the answer, it is clear that he will accept where he is wrong and change his viewpoint but where he is not convinced, he will not change his opinion. This way, he comes across as a very balanced person. This is exactly what the board wants to see.
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