Communicating meaningfully with others
Means building positive relationships with individuals and groups. The youth worker is a master in interacting well with young people as well as with international partners and contributes to smooth communication regarding programmes and projects. Communication is one of the key aspects of youth work. This competence area goes beyond simple communication models and tools. The youth worker also constructively handles emotions, inspiration, intuition, empathy and personalities.
- match knowledge, theories & experiences to the reality & the identities in the group (explicitly or implicitly)?
- listen carefully to others, without judgement, interruption &, if possible, in an unbiased manner?
- pay attention to body language?
- demonstrate understanding of what sparks emotions & how to deal with this accordingly?
- identify feelings and emotions & understand their impact on others?
- address others’ unexpressed concerns, feelings, or interests?
- behave transparently about my personal emotional state & share thoughts in a simple manner?
- create a safe environment where feelings & emotions can be freely and respectfully expressed?
- my knowledge of the different dimensions & elements of active listening & non-verbal communication?
- my knowledge of empathy-related mechanisms?
- me being up-to-date on current concepts & theories with regard to diversity?
- my knowledge about the different dimensions of identity?
- my knowledge of various methods & approaches in working with different groups of people?
- my ability to actively listen?
- me being able to encourage sharing & mutual support within the group?
- me knowing how to develop, adapt & apply methods that support awareness of my own identity & its intrinsic elements?
- my ability to demonstrate empathy in a way that others can learn from it?
- my ability to deal with emotions and to ask for support when needed?
- my ability to speak in another language than my mother tongue, where needed?
- my openness to expressions of feelings & emotions (one’s own & others’)?
- my readiness to challenge myself & others?
- my readiness to take a step back & reflect (e.g. on my own perceptions, understanding, feelings)?
- my awareness of the unique yet complex approach to my identity & how to deal with it when working in a group?
- my sensitivity & openness to diversity?
- my willingness to learn about the backgrounds/contexts/realities of the young people?