Social Working 101 - Why You Should Say Sorry
Let's talk about transparency and honesty. I have often asked myself at work why some colleagues find it so difficult to apologize to teenagers. So, I work in a residential group for girls and accordingly we spend a lot of time together. One night shift is 16 hours of work. There are weeks when I spend more time at work than at home. (Let’s just don’t talk about how unhealthy my Work-Life-Balance is at the moment, ty) That means I am sometimes stressed or in a bad mood or confused when I get to work because this is also my everyday life. That means mistakes happen. And honestly? I just apologize.
1. In the best case, we should be good role models for young people. How are they supposed to learn how to apologize when all the adults around them pretend they never have to?
2. We are human. We make mistakes. And that the young people are given the feeling that adults are not to be criticized and make no mistakes does not help in their development, nor does it make them mature, independent and courageous.
3. It only encourages blind obedience to authority.
4. And if we are honest, it's much more about the insecurity of social workers and the fear of losing control.
5. If we give young people the chance to listen, in my experience, they totally understand a lot. And with the trust we give them, rather they feel seen, taken seriously and are very understanding.
6. The motto is: The more we understand the more patience we will feel.
So let's work on being able to criticize and admit mistakes when dealing with young people. Because this is a skill they need for a successful life. We must not let our own fears or insecurities lead us not to use this opportunity when dealing with young people. It’s not that hard.
