MOTIVATIONAL SKILLS – RECOGNIZING OBSTACLES
Motivation means to move a person to develop or to stop a behavior. Often you are responsible to bring training and technical assistance to a provider. You assist the provider in adopting best practices in health and safety, curriculum, and child development. Have you ever been frustrated when you have spent hours training providers only to find they are not applying what you taught them?
MOTIVATIONAL SKILLS – KEEPING YOURSELF MOTIVATED
Dealing with complaints and problems can be stressful. There are occasionally times when you are called upon to discipline or investigate a provider. Or you may have a provider or parent who has made a complaint against you. This can be a very unpleasant and negative experience. Dealing with these negative experiences can affect your own motivation and your ability to motivate others. How can you stay motivated?
TALK TO SOMEONE
MOTIVATIONAL SKILLS- BE EFFECTIVE
As I am sure you will agree, every provider is different. Each has their own personality and circumstances. To be an effective motivator, you need to know and understand your provider. Here are some things you should think about to be a good motivator.
BE RESPECTFUL
That means working with the provider to learn how she can transfer the knowledge into practical situations. Do not be judgmental of her objections but be respectful of her feelings and work with her to accomplish goals.
NEVER TALK DOWN TO PROVIDER
CONDUCTING VISITS TO DIFFERENT CULTURES
MONITORING SCHOOL AGE CARE
Many of the family child care providers that you conduct monitoring visits with will be providing before and after school care. This type of care offers challenges not only to providers but also to Monitors as well.
Reviewing attendance records for multiple part time children can be difficult. If a provider is not well organized and attendance records are not always accessible or reliable, this can create a big challenge for monitors. Here are some tips that can assist you:
SCHEDULE EFFECTIVELY
MALE MONITORS
Male home visitors face some unique issues and challenges. Here are some unique challenges you may face.
1. Men communicate differently than women. You may find that some providers may feel uncomfortable communicating with you.
For example: your body language may be perceived differently by a female provider. A female Monitor may have a stern look and the provider may interpret it as serious. However, a male with a stern look may be perceived as threatening. Be particularly aware of your tone of voice and facial expressions.
Maintaining Consistency Builds Respect
LEGAL RESOURCE FILE
KEEPING FOCUS ON YOUR VISIT
Good preparation is key to staying focused on your visits. There are many things that can interrupt your plan and take the focus of the visit in a different direction.
For example:
Children often get noisy and disruptive when a visitor arrives
Provider may be dealing with a personal problem and provider sees an opportunity to share it with another adult.
Provider may have another agenda and want to vent about a parent or child in her care
HOW TO REPRESENT YOUR COMPANY IN THE BEST WAY
Providers may be affiliated with many organizations. They are part of the State voucher program and are caring for children whose care is subsidized by the State. They are part of Federal programs like the CACFP. In addition, you are visiting the provider because she is part of Bethel Child Care and Provider Resources. In most instances the only person your providers are acquainted with is you, their Monitor. You are the ‘face of your organization”. You are the person the provider sees at their front door on a regular basis.
HOW THE COLORS WE WEAR INFLUENCE OUR VISITS
People judge you by what you wear. You need to be selective to assure that you are portraying the correct image. That is why you need to pay attention to the colors you wear. We know that our minds can be influenced by what we see, therefore, color can influence our mood and this often sets the tone for the whole day. Consider these colors and the moods they reflect:
HOW TO HANDLE A PROVIDER’S PERSONAL PROBLEMS
Exercising Initiative and Good Judgement
Monitors need to show initiative especially when confronted with serious problems. You may be called upon to take the initiative to call in authorities, or regulatory agencies when a serious or dangerous situation arises. As difficult as that is sometimes, it raises the respect that the public has for your organization. It shows that even though there is a serious problem you and your agency will do the right thing to make it better.
ACCURATE NOTE TAKING
When you take notes during a visit it’s important that your notes are accurate. Every evaluation should be substantiated with your documentation. Good documentation provides accountability for you.
When is it necessary to have good notes?
• When you discussing an issue with provider that must be address and changed.
Ex: Provider must be more accurate and timely when making out her attendance sheets.
• When you are investigating a complaint against provider.
ETHICS- MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES
Ethics involve what is the best course of action for the good of an individual or for a society; it involves principles, standards and values. As a professional you are a role model for the providers you visit. You also have to juggle multiple responsibilities.
EFFECTIVELY GETTING YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS
Communication skills are necessary to get your message across. Many times you are required to introduce new child care regulations, and conduct training on how to implement new requirements. Occasionally providers will resist change, therefore it is your responsibility to get the message across in an accurate way. Providers will be influenced by the way you present the message.
DRESS FOR RESPECT AND AUTHORITY
“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society” Mark Twain
People will judge you by how you look. You may act differently depending on what you are wearing. As a Monitor, your clients will be influenced by the visual cues you present. In addition, different colors evoke emotions that range from trust to danger. The mood and tone of the visit will be directly influenced by the clothing and colors you wear. Therefore, dressing appropriately is very important.
DOGS AND PETS IN HOMES
More than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year. There are many instances when Monitors are injured by household pets. It’s difficult to determine which breed of dog is most likely to be aggressive. So don’t assume that a pet is safe regardless of what the provider tells you.
CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
WHAT ARE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS ?
Critical thinking skills are important for solving problems, developing solutions, and creating ideas for training your providers.
As monitors you need to have the ability to analyze information from an unbiased observation and point of view. When using critical thinking skills you need to organize all the facts, data, and other information. This will help you to define exactly what the problem is and develop an effective solution.
CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK
When working with your providers, feedback is very important. This allows the provider to evaluate how they are doing. As adults, we don’t often praise our own accomplishments. We feel as if we are bragging to say, “Look what a great job I did.” Therefore, when you show your providers you notice even small things, it gives them a feeling that their efforts are appreciated.