Yes. I equate this with we often take the easy route rather than make the hard decisions. It's easy to say what people want to hear than it is to share truth with love.

And it is difficult working with and for people who only want confirmation of what THEY want. I am terrible at telling people what they want to hear. I can tell those who really want to know because they will come back to me - again and again. I actively seek out people who I know will have a much different perspective on an issue. It is SO valuable. Nice post. :)

Yes, but I have several questions I ask to add light to the dimness. Pretty much in this order.

1. What do I need to know?
2. What else do I need to know?
3. What aren't you telling me?
4. What do you want?
5. What do you not want?

Follow-up questions to these five basic questions journey through who, where, why and how. Hmmm, I feel a Maine HR Cafe blog entry formulating!