Sit them down... then LISTEN
I'm going to admit to a lack of originality here. The heart of this suggestion is stolen from one of my favored texts on working with human beings ( Seven Habits of Highly Effective People , by Steven Covey). One of his habits is "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." There are so many reasons and examples I've experienced in my personal life why I have found this to be such a powerful habit. The reason it's so important in coaching is you are trying to get a group of young people to listen to you and soak in what you are saying and believe it in a way you might not even expect from your own children. (Remember, you are likely doing this at a time when every instinct in their bodies is telling them to forge their own way and test their boundaries.) Question : How do you form this trusting relationship in a short period of time? Answer : Find a way to show that your objectives are aligned, you are willing to listen, and you are on THEIR team. Hi