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Information Please!

The statement “knowledge is power” applies in workforce development as in any other industry. As a professional, you may have many situations in your daily business that require additional knowledge to proceed. 
 
 
Most gaps in thought or understanding come from lack of information or critical details required for the best decision making process. For example, a job seeker may present only certain information when trying to receive employment services. As a workforce professional, the recommendations may not result in the desired employment opportunity. There are many times the information you are missing provides the key to the best recommendations. Gaps in information also exist on the larger programmatic level. For example, when implementing programs or services, not having all the details about funding requirements for programming could lead to a funding penalty. 
 
 
Informational gaps cause confusion, wasted time, and ultimately frustration for all involved parties. Regardless where the informational gap occurs, the answer is the same. “Probing preparation” or doing “PP” beforehand can be a solution. I recommend that both direct and non-direct service staff do probing preparation or “PP” before meeting with job seekers, meeting with colleagues, or implementing services.
 
Probing preparation is not as complicated as it sounds. The process is simple, but requires some thought time. Ask yourself some probing questions.  

  • What information do I need? What do I need to understand the problem? What will I do with the information? What is the desired outcome? What am I doing about it?
 
  • Who can provide this information? Who is involved? Whom are the key players?
 
  • When can I receive the information? When will this information be necessary?
 
  • Where can I get the information? Where will it go?
 
  • Why is this information important? Why is the person here? Why am I seeking this information? Why am I here?
 
 
These questions may sound silly, but are all necessary. Often we relate these questions just to direct service staff working with job seekers, but the questioning process starts before the meeting with the job seeker. The questioning process starts before a meeting with partners or funders. The questioning starts before program implementation. Interrogation of yourself to prepare is part of the planning process. Without questions, there are not any answers.
 
 ~Karen Cirincione
Email: kcirincione@gmail.com
Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/karenjcirincione
Twitter:@kcirincione

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