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Spoon Full of Sugar

People are pretty predictable creatures. People desire be liked by others and be appreciated. People generally do not like anything not favorable to themselves. As a result, companies selling necessary items have figured out ways to make items more pleasant and personalized. For example, average kitchen electrical items come in fashion colors to match personality. Normally bitter medicine is flavored to make it tastier.  As fictional character, Mary Poppins, would say, “a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.”
 
The same logic is used when we need to deal with each other every day. Workforce development is a people business. It involves human capital. As result we are not immune from the need to sweeten the sour. Many of our clients and customers do not like to hear bad news. They do not want to hear change in perspective or actions are necessary. For example, a job seeker may have a vision of his next position that is not realistic of the labor market. An employer may not understand employee turnover is a result of the company’s culture and not due to the skills of the referred job seekers.  
 
I can’t think of one situation in workforce development or life outside the workforce bubble where someone wants to hear bad news.  As professionals in the people business, we need to be aware of this and try to appease pleasantries whenever possible. Although being direct is important, it is important to focus on the positives. A job seeker may have unrealistic expectations based on the labor market, but may have a desired skill set. Another job seeker may have many have huge barriers to employment, but has a positive attitude. An employer may have a group of committed core folks despite its poor culture.
 
This does not mean bad news should be avoided. Instead, discuss the pros and cons. Find the technique the person used to be passionate, proactive, or exemplary in other areas and use the same techniques to move the person towards the desired change or outcome. The same positive approaches can be tailored to another area. Encouragement is necessary. This is the sugar. Our sensitive human souls need sugar to fertilize the growth or change.

~Karen Cirincione
kcirincione@gmail.com
Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/karenjcirincione
Twitter:@kcirincione

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