Crystal agreed to serve on a company’s advisory board and now has to contact them to say she cannot attend a scheduled meeting where she was to be one of the several key speakers. What should she do?
a) Let the company know she cannot attend and that they will have to make arrangements for another speaker.
b) Ask the company to cancel the meeting.
c) Offer to send a knowledgeable colleague in her place
d) Resign from the advisory board before the meeting date.
I know that (B) and (D) are definitely not correct. However, I'm torn between (A) and (C). I'm thinking that Crystal should at least offer an alternative? I'm leaning towards (C)... but still unsure!
I would be torn between the two also. It would depend on the type of board, the earliness of the notification, the way the company is organized and other factors. However, I would lean toward A.
Correct answer is: c) Offer to send a knowledgeable colleague in her place
In this situation, the best option for Crystal would be to choose option (A) and let the company know that she cannot attend the scheduled meeting. However, your consideration of option (C) is also valid, as offering to send a knowledgeable colleague in her place would be a considerate alternative. To make a final decision between the two options, Crystal should consider the following steps:
1. Evaluate the importance of her role as a key speaker at the meeting and the impact of her absence on the company and the scheduled agenda. If her presence is critical, she should consider finding the best alternative solution to fulfill her obligation.
2. Contact the company promptly to inform them of her inability to attend the meeting.
3. Express her regret and apologize for any inconvenience caused by her absence.
4. In the case Crystal considers option (C), she can offer to send a knowledgeable colleague as a replacement. However, this should be communicated as a suggestion rather than an expectation, since it ultimately depends on the company's preference and their willingness to accept the substitute.
By following these steps, Crystal can effectively communicate her unavailability to the company while also demonstrating professionalism and offering a potential solution if appropriate.