Our youth workers from Grow Detroit’s Youth Talent started this week. They were split into 3 groups, so I’m only supervising/working with one group for most of the time. From spending time with my team, I’ve come to appreciate their sense of eagerness to learn. After introducing my project to them and explaining to them what I would need help with, they were so willing to help. I’ve realized that the passion in what I do/am doing shows and it comes through when I talk about it. This demeanor has the ability to encourage others to be excited and that passion rubs off.
Having a group of teenagers look to me for answers is one position that I take very seriously. And the reason is because I know that there is no reason they should have to do this life journey alone. It’s not wise for me to hold their hand through everything either. I often want to just give them answer, but I refrain and push them to think for themselves and come up with their own ideas. I push them to expand on these ideas and I challenge them to explain and make sense of things.
My favorite request so far is: “Can you teach me how to talk and be more professional and calm like you?” I honestly never thought I’d be looked to for professionalism skills, but here we are. Because of my team, Week 7 has been good to me. I’ve helped them prepare for a presentation, taught them how to create a professional and appropriate email, and most importantly taught them how to change the way they communicate in the workplace.
I make it my business to be a great leader and example for them so they will know what to do if they are ever in my position. “Our children are our future.” It’s so cliche, but it’s so true.
Hey Dara,
Lindsay and I are also dealing with similar responsibilities with training new interns at Focus: HOPE. Since they will be most likely taking over our positions partially or completely, its a lot of things that we have to go over and teach them. I think our experience is a bit different from yours as the people we are training are around the same age as us if not older, so I would view them more as a colleague.
Also just by reading your post I agree that what you’re doing in regards to training is very professional. You instruct your team but you don’t baby them or do their assignments for them. I think those are the signs of someone with great leadership skills who would do very well in the workplace!
Best of luck!