A peer support recipient leans heavily on you for help. How can you empower them to become more independent?
Helping a peer become more independent requires tactful guidance and setting boundaries. To facilitate their growth:
- Offer resources instead of solutions, directing them to where they can find answers independently.
- Encourage problem-solving by asking guiding questions that lead them to their own conclusions.
- Set clear limits on your availability, reinforcing their ability to handle challenges without immediate assistance.
How do you encourage independence in colleagues who depend on you?
A peer support recipient leans heavily on you for help. How can you empower them to become more independent?
Helping a peer become more independent requires tactful guidance and setting boundaries. To facilitate their growth:
- Offer resources instead of solutions, directing them to where they can find answers independently.
- Encourage problem-solving by asking guiding questions that lead them to their own conclusions.
- Set clear limits on your availability, reinforcing their ability to handle challenges without immediate assistance.
How do you encourage independence in colleagues who depend on you?
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In situations like this one, you'll have to teach him or her how to fish instead of fishing for them. By teaching them how to fish, you're helping them to be independent. You show them ways and means by which they can get resources to support themselves and coach them on how to use the resources effectively and efficiently. But if you fish for them, they'll always come back to you for help because they are ignorant about how to generate the resources and manage them effectively and efficiently.
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In our organization, we have a saying: "Do For, Do With, and Cheer On!" When we have a peer we are supporting who is struggling with something, we'll help do something for them once or twice to show them how its done, explaining that we are happy to show them how to do it so that they can do it WITH us next time, and then eventually through that process they learn to do it on their own with our encouragement. We explain this saying and reinforce it throughout the process, taking time at each level as is needed, and emphasizing that the goal of this process is to empower them to learn how to accomplish the desired task themselves rather than always depending on a support that may not always be available.
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Encourage peer to come up with ideas for problem solving. Motivate, encourage to come up with ideas and turn into actions. Let them know you are there to bounce ideas should they need it whilst they carry out the actions. Signpost to other support also. Do not know what baggage they r carrying so be supportive not the carer. Show them how to fish do not give them the fish, as confidence grows dependancy will ease. Encourage to seek support from other peers, address training need with management all part of growing independent, taking control
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One thing I’ve found helpful is providing them with links, adequate resources, and available services within or outside the organisation. This will enforce self sufficiency and courage to build creative thinking in order to achieve their goals.
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One thing that I have found that works is to empower and encourage them by simply reminding them of their abilities, passions and skills and giving them proper resources to show my support while enforcing that they are capable to execute anything.
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Many times people already have an idea of the solution and are looking for validation to build their confidence. Asking questions about what ideas they have or if they could wave a magic wand what would resolve the situation can unlock their thought process.
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