3️⃣📖 Peer Modeling
Do: Relate
As Peer Mentors, we model the changes we've made in our own lives, offering inspiration to others. We are on this journey together. I've been where you are, and I'm sharing my personal experience.
Our role is to support, not to direct. Each person owns the consequences of their choices, and through our actions, we convey respect and belief in their resourcefulness: that they are capable of making the best decisions for themselves and their life.
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If we tell people what to do, we are assuming the role of an expert. Experts have the answers others should abide by.
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As an expert, we assume the risk of the success or failure of the outcome of them taking our advice. We don’t want to be on the hook for executing a rescue.
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Subliminally, we’re telling them: you aren’t able to figure out what’s best for you, but I am.
Don’t: Advise
As Peer Mentors, giving advice falls outside the scope of our role. When we tell others what to do, we step into the role of an expert, implying that we have the answers they should follow. This carries the risk of being accountable for the success or failure of their outcomes. Implicitly, it suggests that they are not capable of determining what’s best for themselves, but we are.
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I’m in this with you. I’ve been where you are. I’m just offering my personal experience.
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While staying within the bounds of our role and not telling someone else what to do, they own the consequences of their action or inaction.
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We subliminally tell them: I respect you and believe in your resourcefulness. You are able to make the best decision for yourself and your life.
