Why did the chicken cross the road?

Who is my audience?  What is my goal?  As I continue reading Undoing the Silence, by Louise Dunlap, I believe I am learning and growing as a writer, part of which has been an increase in my confidence.  In Chapter Six, Dunlap challenges the writer to know their audience.  That is so obvious it just might work!  In writing an email, a report, or a paper, the question remains pertinant, who is the audience?  Further, what is their understanding of the subject prior to reading what I have written?  Dunlap created an exercise in which the writer explores those questions.  The writer is also asked to look at the beliefs, values and attitudes of the audience.  Again, makes good sense  Having performed stand-up comedy, knowing and reading the audience is crucial!  If you are getting crickets rather than roaring laughter, it’s time to switch it up.  Gauge the audience and modify the material accordingly.  That is not to suggest that the author’s position needs to change, just the way in which it is relayed.  Why did the chicken cross the road becomes who is watching the chicken cross the road?

Personality

Recently I've been pondering personality and social work.  Use of personality is one component of being authentic within social work practice.  A few of the personality traits I value most in social workers are compassion, humor and good judgement coupled with a helpful nature.  I find that most social workers possess these things.  I believe that it is an inherent desire to help others that leads a person into social worker.  So what happens when those things aren't present?  I have recently encountered a couple of social workers who don't appear to have these traits and I am baffled by it.  Why on earth would a person who doesn't even seem to like people choose to work with people??  As social workers we typically work with people in crisis.  I know how I feel when I am under a great deal of stress, and to then encounter an individual that is supposed to help me navigate through it who is judgemental would not be helpful.  In fact I think it would make the situation that much worse.  I want someone who can be empathetic and willing to listen and also answer questions.  When I come across social workers who seem put off at the suggestion that they do their jobs, I wonder if they have always been that way or if they have burnt out.  I understand that this profession can do that to a person and often very quickly.  Well, here is a newsflash:  If you hate coming to work, then other people probably also hate that you come to work.  Time to reassess and change your career path.  You are doing more harm than good.