Why I prefer serving both honey and vinegar

Dismantling a false dichotomy

"You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." is a popular phrase. Nevertheless, it always struck me as being used incorrectly at work.

While it is not completely wrong, it is also not completely right. Yes, if you are always a bitter person, it is unlikely to get others engaged. No, always being nice will not get you anywhere either.

I like what Felix von Leitner (aka fefe) said: "A good consultant will not only tell you what you want to hear but also what you need to hear."

You cannot always serve only honey. At least sometimes you need to say what will not be sweet but necessary and very useful. Nobody says you cannot do it with style!

People have more intellectual capacity than flies. People like to be excited - with ideas that hold true at daylight, when the cognitive brain had time to process them as well.

Good qualiy vinegar is hard to get and really appreciated. (Influenced by my summer holiday in Italy, I immediately have to think about Aceto Balsamico...)

This is like saying things people do not like to hear but need to hear. If you do it in high quality, it will work miracles.

Moby: Honey