1. Professionalism Begins With You
This lesson emphasizes the importance of understanding your role as a professional and someone who influences young people by the things they do more than what they say.
Professionalism
Being the Best You Can Be.
Professionalism is often confused with the clothes you wear, carrying a briefcase, and looking the part of a person who is on the way up. In afterschool, while it is important to wear your team shirt if you have one, your identification badge, and pants and shoes which will allow you to sit on the floor and walk across an uneven playground, it is so much more.
Angeles Arrien, a cultural anthropologist, speaks about the importance of showing up and choosing to be present. Being on time matters. Youth intuitively understand that timeliness equates to valuing. Even busy people make time for what is important to them. Being present refers to leaving personal challenges outside of the space you share with youth and focusing on them and their needs and interests.
When you are present, you are more likely to present yourself as a learner — someone who is on this journey of discovery with young people. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know. Let’s figure it out.” In fact, it will help to build trust and relationships when you do this.
As a team leader or a Site Coordinator, you are working to build positive relationships with all youth. It’s important to understand that, as an afterschool professional, every action you demonstrate gives youth permission to do the same, no matter how it manifests. You are who these young people want to become — an adult. Lead by example, not words.
Remember, you are the adult in charge. Being an adult means accepting full responsibility for the actions you take. Let BIC — the Best Interest of the Child — be your guide. If you make a mistake, own up to it, apologize if necessary, and then fix it. No need for excuses, defenses, rationalizations, or trying to focus the attention on someone or something else. Do your best and learn from the rest.
This is a four-video class that provides practical information about doing your job in a professional manner whether you are just starting out or transitioning to this work.
Before You Begin
Step 1 — Read the Professionalism eBook: Open the eBook.
Step 2 — Download the Professionalism Implementation Playbook: Open the Playbook.
Step 3 — Download the Professionalism Checklist: Open the Checklist.
Lessons
2. Small Habits—Big Difference
Too often we believe that we have to make “big splashes” to make “big impact.” This video helps you understand that everything you do each day — the encouraging comments, the questions you ask, the smile on your face — is what will ultimately make the difference. Children may not remember what they learned from you, but they will remember how you treated them.
3. Every Child Is Watching
Children notice everything! If you have on a new shirt, you just had a haircut, you look stressed, happy, or angry, they are watchful, and in this watching, they are learning. When you work with children and youth you are always influencing them.
4. You’re The Adult Now
The impact you make matters. When you are professional in your interactions with children and youth, you have the opportunity to change lives. And when you change the trajectory of a child’s life, you will change the destiny of their family.