Being an Effective Helper

Most of us will be in a helping role at some point. We will be teachers, coaches, parents, or professional servers. Good helpers have some common traits, which facilitate learning. Here are some:

1. They create a safe atmosphere so students can risk being wrong without experiencing overwhelming anxiety. Learning takes courage, and helpers must understand this.
2. They are patient. They can tolerate students faltering many times without becoming frustrated. Who ever learned to play golf or write a competent essay in a few lessons?
3. They inspire hope. Some tasks are so hard to master that students can easily become demoralized. Helpers need to offer encouragement and be empathic with the inherent difficulty in learning complex tasks. A helper’s appreciation and respect is the fuel a student needs to charge ahead!
4. They have realistic expectations. If a helper raises the bar too high, he will be setting up a student for failure and frustration. Learning in small increments with accompany reinforcement from a helper is the way to go.
5. Effective helpers like teaching and care that their students succeed.  Students who feel cared about will be motivated to learn.
6. Effective helpers work hard. Not surprisingly, so do their students.
7. Effective helpers are creative and flexible. Not everyone learns the same way. Stimulated people learn best, and the helper’s job is to keep the action moving! How many boring lectures have we all sat through?  How many times have we seen teachers unable to find another way to present material, even when it is obvious their methods aren’t working?

Helpers who understand the powerful opportunity that their position affords them have the best chance of being effective and reaping the rewards of seeing progress and mastery.