Building Relationships

In this section, we focus on demonstrating caring and utilizing good communication to build credibility with students. If we want students to pursue postsecondary education when it is not an aspiration, we need them to value our input. Building relationships is all about connecting with students personally so they know we have their best interests in mind. 

All three of these concepts are intertwined:

• How credible are you if you are not communicating?

• How accurate is your information? What is the depth of your knowledge? Deep levels of accurate knowledge help credibility and demonstrate caring (i.e. you care enough to learn things that help your students).

• How consistent/authentic is your caring? If your caring is inconsistent or appears inauthentic, this affects credibility and impairs communication.

• There is a reciprocal relationship between communication and caring.

  • If you are not communicating, it looks like you don’t care.

  • Caring requires communication.  

    • Saying “I’m proud of you” in an email makes a big impact.

    • Greeting students in the morning and saying goodbye at dismissal is communication that exudes caring.