So it looks like you're spending a good amount of time focusing on the students' goal to identify the gap in between where they are today and the goal. Great approach! How do you think this approach helps your students?
Not only do we discuss where they are at in their lives at the present time but we also discuss where they would see themselves down the road if they do not pursue education. We then flip it and ask where they see themselves once they have graduated from school. We usually follow-up and ask them how education can help them get to this place.
I encourage them to really access their future goals. Successful career, family life, financial stability. All things that people strive for in their lifetime. In order to achieve this they must put in the hard work now
I think this is an important point Christi. Often times what is happening right now is what is prompting them to start looking for a new direction such as going back to school. If you don't understand what's happening now then it will be harder to know what their challenges are and how school will help them.
Great point Indrid. Getting them to talk about their vision and goals causes them to consider how they can reach those goals, helping them to realize that this step is critical to helping them get to where they want to be. Life is always going to happen. Waiting for the "perfect time" is possibly why they are where they are today.
I have learned that I still use the word why in my questions and I do not realize it. I hope to keep asking dynamic questions going forward.
I agree that asking questions of how what I have shared with them is a benefit to them is a lot better then telling them how it benefits them. I love asking questions.
This is great because it makes it very personal for them. Sounds like you are empowering the student to accept responsibility for their future success!
I really like what Claudia is saying. Delving into what decisions they have made in the past and what changes they would make in the future will help them realize what they are looking to accomplish and show them how an education will get them to where they want to be.
I can identify with what Ingrid is saying. I like to ask about thier background and glean thier needs from thier experiences. After that, I present the attributes and benefits of how our school can meet thier needs. I then ask - "Does this sound good to you?"
After every place you have go get agreement and ask how they would show the school off. What would they like to see in the school?
We speak to them regarding their history either having attended a school without finishing or never having gone to school at all. How did that make them feel when they continued on without having it completed.
I agree. Regularly returning the prospect to their big picture goal is an excellent way of keeping them focused on moving forward rather than remaining static.
It is important to get the student to vocalize what the degree will do for them. I ask pointed questions about why the student wants the degree.
Jeffrey - Good question. If you have a rapport built it will get them to connect the dots or point out to you where you might have missed something important to them!
By going back to their needs and asking if what we just talked about would help imporve the situation or solve the problem. The ask how it would do so.
Discuss why they want to attend and how we can meet their needs, leverage a student success story.
I'm curious - how often has this led to the list of cons being longer than the list of pros and how have you responded?
Asking the student what benefit they see is a great way to begin, and it's always great to have one or two additional benefits, specific to the needs of that student, to provide after they tell you what they feel are the benefits. Thanks for posting.
I encourage students to share the benefit of attending school with me by first providing them with all necessary information on the program and then by asking them questions about what they feel are the benefits.
