Lesson I Learned From Helping Others
Showing others a different, more effective and productive way of doing things is better than bailing them out of trouble. By bailing them constantly, you stunt their critical thinking ability.
An Alternative Way to Help
Give them possible solutions to solve their problems and allow them to choose which is best for them. If they believe none of your solutions will work, ask them why they believe it won’t work. Then ask them what they think will work. If they come up with nothing, suggest they try one of the solutions you offered.
If they refuse, respect their wishes but let them know you have nothing else to offer. This puts the ball back in their court to figure out what to do next. This will cause them to seek other resources thus starting their critical thinking process.
If they come back to you with the same problem, again, don’t solve it for them or bail them out. Instead, ask they have tried to do to resolve the problem. If they say nothing, decline to assist again because this person is not ready to change the behavior that keeps creating such situations and thus you will always be in a continuous state of bailing them out.
I hope this is helpful to you.
From My Heart to Yours,
Ms. Sheryl