GENUINE CARING TO DEVELOP TRUST!
IT HAS WORKED FOR ME. WE WORK TOGETHER. AS AN INSTRUCTOR I DEMOSTRATE THEM A GENUINE INTEREST ENCOURAGING THEM ONE ANOTHER TO DO THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE ON ANYTHING THEY DO.
Mignonne, how do you initiate this type of conversation? Do you end with a clear course of action and set of responsibilities for the parties involved?
I agree that it's very important for an instructor to have a one-on-one talk with "problem students". This way you show the student that you are concerned and and care about her success and paves the way for a trusting and caring professional relationship - this has worked for me.
I give pep talks every day. Our industry is very subjective, and giving the students the confidence they need to get through ups and downs of kitchen life is very important. If students think they will fail, they probably will.
I agree trust promotes the confidence of the student relative to the school, staff and themself.
I develop caring with my students by getting to know them as a person not just a number. I ask about their hopes and dreams, their fears and concerns and have an open discussion with them about it rather than just saying 'ok'. I ask about their support system or lack thereof. Our industry deals with high risk students more than low risk. I stay on top of my students after they leave admissions. I will ask how their family life is going or how they did after their first module. I remain their personal cheerleader while they are in school. Many of our students don't have that person at home. I high five and make a big deal when they get that A they never believed was possible. I am always one of the first to know when a retention issue is brewing and it usually comes straight from the student. Caring absolutely produces trust and rather than the student dropping off the face of the earth, they coem to me at a crisis point so I can help them work through their issue and remain on the path of success. Every student needs that one person in the school they can go to when a crisis occurs before it is to late. A student will not feel isolated if they have a connection with at least one staff member and thus turn to the individual they trust to help them work through the crisis before it is too late.
It's great that you can connect students on a personal level based on your experience, Mel. Do you share any of your past challenges and solutions to the entire class?
I found that, sharing a similar experience with the student will help bridge the initial gap between student and faculty/staff member. A commonality that I share with students is that, I used to go to school full time and work multiple part time jobs. It helps them understand that they're not alone in their hardships and it isn't permanent. The staff is here to support them.
I truly believe you can convey this by saying I am confident in both you and my abilities to help you overcome this issue. It will require effort on both of our parts. I’m sure you can Get-er-Done, and remember I got your back.
Something along these lines. I've been successful with this approch. Soon you get a reputation amongst the students He listens, he cares. Or he’ll know what to do.
with more trust and the knowlage there work will be varified that students become more trustworthy.
Thanks for sharing this, Andrea. I suspect that some forum participants have actively avoided having conversations like this with students. Hopefully, you have inspired them to be more proactive with their students.
I had a student who was always insulting herself in class. I gave her a pep talk one day and found out later that I was the only one who ever believed in her. She came to me with a huge (life or death)personal problem because she knew that I cared. I spoke to the authorities at our school and we got her the help that she needed. She told me that if I had not had that talk with her, she never would have told anyone about her issue. I didn't realize at the time the impact that something that seemed so small to me could have on a student.
Can you share an example of how you were successful in winning a student's trust?
You have to be real. People are smart, no matter what. They can read people, so it's important to be truthful and sincere. Trust is a difficult area for many people, and it definitely needs to be earned.
To believe in a student you must be honest. Just as you don't want the student to tell you what they think you want to hear rather than their true feelings, you must also be honest with the student. Let them know you are treating them and their issues as an individual rather than an example of a textbok approach to problem solving.
I agree with you Amy, but how do you demonstrate that you believe in the student?
I find that if I believe in them, then they will believe in themselves.
