Soft or tough, handle with care

When it comes to talking to youngsters, there may not be one good way that fits every situation. Cheering on is good, brutal honesty may also be necessary, but humor is always a good solution.

Conventional wisdom has it that Westerners are often straightforward while Chinese tend to beat around the bush. But conventional wisdom, being what it is, can generalize to the point of blurring cultural niceties. From what I can see, speaking your mind can be difficult in most situations regardless of the culture.

In a hierarchical society, it usually takes more skill from someone on a lower level to address someone higher up than the other way around. Even so, managers at various levels have learned to be positive and say, "You can do it better next time" rather than "You did terribly this time". Someone who is too blunt can hurt more than help things and, in a business environment, can cause extreme unpleasantness or even legal troubles.