Hi Joseph,
I agree listening is a key component to getting situations resolved. It is vitally important to allow students to vent, it seems as though once students vent, the situaton is resolved a lot easier. "Sugar coating" things do not allow for easy resolution; I tell my students to "shoot straight from the hip" with me so that I can better help them. We also have very strict rules, policies, and procedures at my institution. Honesty is always the best policy.
Patricia