I’ve done quite a lot of work with adults recently, which presents me with lots of opportunities and challenges that are different to my work with young people in amongst the elements that are pretty much the same.
One of the things that makes the work with adults different was suddenly defined for me in Thursdays workshop. Whenever I ask for feedback, views and opinions on Thursday nights about what we’ve done and seen I am inundated with people wanting to articulate and share their thoughts, their responses, their feelings. The level of sophistication in these responses varies as does the extent to which these thoughts have been developed but that doesn’t matter. What matters is (apart from the obvious examples) that everything people say is relevant and what’s more valued by those listening to it. Some group members are more dominant than others but everyone has a voice should they choose to use it. What’s more, in term time, Thursday nights aren’t the only night this happens… it happens throughout the week at all the Yew Tree sessions.
In contrast there seems to be a reticence on the part of the adults that I come into contact with to share their views. It’s as if they lack confidence in them, don’t want to be caught out or that they just haven’t really thought through how they feel about things to the extent that they can talk about them. Whatever the reason it is clear that they don’t or don’t want to have ownership of their thoughts.
The ability to evaluate, to be able to discuss experiences and the way they impact on our selves, others and the world we live in is a vital skill. In Yew Tree I am proud of the way we empower people and provide them with some of the skills and the opportunity so they feel able and positive about doing so. At this time of the year I am aware of the fact that we are about to lose people as they move onto the next phase of their lives. One of my hopes as we watch you go is that you don’t lose your passion for debate and discussion, that you continue to own your thoughts in such as a way that you can develop, alter and affirm them through discussion with equally articulate and greater minds.
As for the rest of us…we’re lucky enough to be able to continue to enjoy the richness of the workshop dialogues…and capitalise on the way it develops our self and world view…so as a final thought those of you still lacking the confidence to share your thoughts in workshops please take the risk and share your thoughts…for no other reason than to take ownership of them…it’s important…
One of the things that makes the work with adults different was suddenly defined for me in Thursdays workshop. Whenever I ask for feedback, views and opinions on Thursday nights about what we’ve done and seen I am inundated with people wanting to articulate and share their thoughts, their responses, their feelings. The level of sophistication in these responses varies as does the extent to which these thoughts have been developed but that doesn’t matter. What matters is (apart from the obvious examples) that everything people say is relevant and what’s more valued by those listening to it. Some group members are more dominant than others but everyone has a voice should they choose to use it. What’s more, in term time, Thursday nights aren’t the only night this happens… it happens throughout the week at all the Yew Tree sessions.
In contrast there seems to be a reticence on the part of the adults that I come into contact with to share their views. It’s as if they lack confidence in them, don’t want to be caught out or that they just haven’t really thought through how they feel about things to the extent that they can talk about them. Whatever the reason it is clear that they don’t or don’t want to have ownership of their thoughts.
The ability to evaluate, to be able to discuss experiences and the way they impact on our selves, others and the world we live in is a vital skill. In Yew Tree I am proud of the way we empower people and provide them with some of the skills and the opportunity so they feel able and positive about doing so. At this time of the year I am aware of the fact that we are about to lose people as they move onto the next phase of their lives. One of my hopes as we watch you go is that you don’t lose your passion for debate and discussion, that you continue to own your thoughts in such as a way that you can develop, alter and affirm them through discussion with equally articulate and greater minds.
As for the rest of us…we’re lucky enough to be able to continue to enjoy the richness of the workshop dialogues…and capitalise on the way it develops our self and world view…so as a final thought those of you still lacking the confidence to share your thoughts in workshops please take the risk and share your thoughts…for no other reason than to take ownership of them…it’s important…
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