Lindsey,
You make a very good point about the human factor and career success. Younger students need to understand that theirs is not a technical service but a personal service. Their skills as barbers is only one part of getting customers to come back to them on a regular basis. The human factor is what keeps them for the duration.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think it's key to include the human factor with students. I stated in another forum that by being able to do so helps to demonstrate to our student how to establish those boundaries between themselves and their clientele. We work in a service industry where most often we have direct relation to intimate details in our clients lives by our services being utilized in special moments in their lives. This could be a wedding, prom, birth, or even a funeral. It is vital to the success of our barber/cosmetology students to understand healthy interactions with their clientele. I believe it is not only the obligation,but the honor of the instructor to exemplify this by example. We are meant to care about them as people not just tuition. I also, believe that our younger generations are lacking in healthy human interaction due to the many technological advances and social networking online programs. It is something me must engage and embrace but maintain the human connection.
Amy,
Yes, you can but it is easy to keep boundaries with students while earning their respect and developing rapport with them. Just make sure you are always clear in your mind that you are the learning leader and they are the student and you will be fine.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
