What best supports the statement that supervisors should be careful what they say in the presence of subordinates?

• A. Anything said to one subordinate should be said to all subordinates
• B. Any significant communication between supervisor and subordinate should be in writing
• C. Subordinates characteristically tend to place their own meanings into otherwise meaningless remarks
• D. The grapevine has no place in a well-run organization

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is that people who supervise fear that subordinates will fill in gaps with their own meanings when something is said aloud, especially if the remark is vague or casual. Because subordinates tend to interpret remarks through their own lens, even innocent, offhand comments can be misread, repeated inaccurately, or used to spark rumors. That tendency makes careful, precise communication in front of subordinates essential to prevent confusion and maintain trust.

This is why the statement about subordinates characteristically placing their own meanings into otherwise meaningless remarks best supports the idea that supervisors should be careful what they say. It directly highlights the cognitive process that leads to misinterpretation and the potential problems that can follow from it.

The other options describe related issues (consistency of what’s shared with everyone, formalizing significant communications in writing, or minimizing informal channels) but they don’t address the core reason why casual remarks can be misconstrued.