Terrell MANYAK <
manyak@POLARIS.ACAST.NOVA.EDU> wrote:
>snip
Another parallel is reflected in many standard business communications
assignments. For instance, the positive sandwich approach to writing a
bad news communications is excellent training for approaching any employee
relations problem. Students (as future managers) who discipline
themselves to find a positive link to an employee, deliver a negative
message with clarity and firmness and then help that employee find a
positive way to deal with their situation will be much more successful in
creating a healthy work environment.
>snip
And Hubert Wood <
hwood@C.ABAC.PEACHNET.EDU> commented:
>snip
I am aware that the sandwich technique for giving out bad news to employees
was in vogue for several years but I'm now hearing that employees have been
conditioned to expecting bad news anytime that a favorable comment is made
to them and therefore they do not hear the good news because they are
waiting on the brick to fall on their head. What I'm hearing now is that it
is better to simply face the employee with the bad news or good news as the
case may be instead of sending mixed messages as the sandwich technique
does. Any thoughts on this?
>snip
To me, the sandwich approach smacks of manipulation and gives me the willies in
much the same way that the One Minute Manager approach did. My colleagues,
superiors, and suboudinates are all professionals. We have earned the right and
expect to be treated with respect. I consider a sandwich approach or a One
Minute Reprimand with a touchie-feelie at the end to be demeaning.
As has been said repeatedly in this forum, I am responsible for my feelings.
Give me credit for being able to deal with them, unless I ask for help. What I
do ask for is straight-forward, accurate, and as complete as possible
information. Leave the rest to me.
Just my 0.02 worth.
Don Kleist
kleist@gdls.com