What Are We Afraid Of?
If you ask the boomer generation what it was like as kids, they will tell you they went outside, played and came home with the lamp post turned on. Good, bad or indifferent - things are not like that anymore. Since then, we have learned more about stranger danger, and since then there unfortunately has been more stranger danger. What came first…?
Everyone is more nervous today. Jonathan Haidt even wrote a whole book about it, The Anxious Generation. Is it because of phones, technology, social media or just knowing more about life? At the same time, it seems that the art of boundaries and self-advocacy is lost either due to lack of social skills or people pleasing. In a customer service industry, how much is too much customer service? Do we answer emails on the weekend? Let clients call us at night? Waive a late fee charge? How much is too much information?
When it comes to therapists, teachers, camp directors, doctors and any other profession that touches the lives of humans, it is time to reclaim who we are. We got into this business to inspire, teach and heal. Not run our emails by our lawyers. For all of the helping professions out there, it’s time we remember why we began this journey - to help people.
Camps, schools, therapy practices, doctors - listen up! Information preparing your client, camper or student is never too much. Providing resources is never a burden. Take the leap and educate your clientele on what you are the expert of!
So, when you get that nervous feeling, asking if you are serving your clients to the best of your ability… ask yourself these questions:
What are you afraid of?
What is holding you back?
What are your intentions?
Why did you start this?
And if you are already having this nervous feeling and asking yourself these questions, then I can whole heartedly say that you are serving your clients to the best of your ability, because YOU are doing the work!
If you want to chat more, feel free to reach out at jillian@thebarigroup.com!
