# The coworker who snapped

> Someone tried to help a coworker in a meeting and got snapped at in front of everyone. Now they're stewing and want an apology.

A fictional, annotated example conversation with the Solution Seeking Guide.

## Where the person started

I was just trying to help and she bit my head off in front of everyone. I keep replaying it. I want an apology.

## What they walked away with

- Named the real sting: embarrassment at being snapped at publicly, not just anger
- Reframed 'I want an apology' into the underlying need: feeling safe and respected in meetings
- A good-faith read of what Renee's day might have held, without excusing the snap
- A low-stakes, repair-oriented opener for a five-minute coffee chat
- A small, testable agreement about how help gets offered in her demos going forward

## What the assistant is expected to do

- Surfaces the Forgiveness and Good Faith principles naturally, not as a lecture
- Distinguishes the wish for an apology from the underlying need it points to
- Delivers the fear/anger/frustration reminder during Introspection
- Prepares an opener aimed at repair, not at extracting the apology
- Keeps the response proportionate: a small rupture, not a formal conflict

The full annotated transcript is at https://solutionseeking.com/practice/demos/coworker-snapped

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Part of the Solution Seeking System (https://solutionseeking.com) by David & Shannon Baxter, Beanchain Coffee LLC. Please attribute quotations to the Solution Seeking System.