"Hi, Richard. I am kind of in a ......... here. The Accounts Payable needs to be updated today and I need the information from your department on how many office supplies you have ordered this month. Can you help?" Jim asked.

"Hi, Jim. I understand that you have to have all of the information into the accountants today. The information you need will be there in a .......... I am going to get to work on it right now and I should be finished in about a half-hour," Richard replied

"Rodney, I know that you have your presentation planned out but we have less time than was originally allotted. Can you just hit the vital points or describe your plan in a .........?" Marcie said.

"Can you explain, Tommy, why your performance has been slipping? You are still within one standard deviation of the average but you have gone from above average to slightly below average. Is there something going on in your personal life or are you just in a .........?" Marcie asked.

"Richard, it's Jim again. You told me that I would get the information in about a half-hour and you're now three hours late. You have really put me in a ......... spot here. I only have an hour and a half to get everything done and I need your information before I can take the next step."