Handling Difficult Situations
~ 30 minutes
Embedded Files
Standard
Standard
The tutor can identify a variety of effective strategies and resources to handle difficult situations encountered in the tutoring process.
The tutor can identify a variety of effective strategies and resources to handle difficult situations encountered in the tutoring process.
Outcome
Outcome
The tutor is able to recognize potentially difficult situations that may arise in tutoring and call-upon learned strategies to control the situation with authority and sensitivity in order to foster a positive learning environment and effective working relationship with the tutee.
The tutor is able to recognize potentially difficult situations that may arise in tutoring and call-upon learned strategies to control the situation with authority and sensitivity in order to foster a positive learning environment and effective working relationship with the tutee.
Difficult Situations Outside of Work
Difficult Situations Outside of Work
As a tutor, you are tasked with working a demanding, but rewarding job, all while completing your own studies. If you are not careful about listening to your body's symptoms, this can lead to emotional exhaustion.
As a tutor, you are tasked with working a demanding, but rewarding job, all while completing your own studies. If you are not careful about listening to your body's symptoms, this can lead to emotional exhaustion.
Emotionally exhausted tutors risk unintentionally upsetting clients in tutoring appointments if they are experiencing one of the following symptoms:
Emotionally exhausted tutors risk unintentionally upsetting clients in tutoring appointments if they are experiencing one of the following symptoms:
Lack of motivation
Lack of motivation
Students usually come to us when they need a motivation boost. If their tutor is lacking in motivation, this will not set our students up for success.
Students usually come to us when they need a motivation boost. If their tutor is lacking in motivation, this will not set our students up for success.
Irritability/irrational anger
Irritability/irrational anger
Tutoring requires a lot of patience. If a tutor is experiencing an increase of irritability, they risk not having the patience required to help our students get through their appointment.
Tutoring requires a lot of patience. If a tutor is experiencing an increase of irritability, they risk not having the patience required to help our students get through their appointment.
Absentmindedness
Absentmindedness
Absentmindedness impacts a tutors job in a variety of ways. Including, risk of the student noticing the tutors lack of focus on the appointment, forgetting to follow up with a student, faculty member, or coworker, and forgetting to do little tasks that help with workflow.
Absentmindedness impacts a tutors job in a variety of ways. Including, risk of the student noticing the tutors lack of focus on the appointment, forgetting to follow up with a student, faculty member, or coworker, and forgetting to do little tasks that help with workflow.
Apathy
Apathy
Apathy can be described as a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. AKA all of the things required for a tutoring appointment to go well.
Apathy can be described as a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. AKA all of the things required for a tutoring appointment to go well.
Nervousness
Nervousness
Individuals tend to pick up on nervousness the most. If you seem nervous in an appointment, you are at risk of making the student nervous as well; which is not conducive to learning.
Individuals tend to pick up on nervousness the most. If you seem nervous in an appointment, you are at risk of making the student nervous as well; which is not conducive to learning.
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty concentrating
If you are not focused on the student during your appointment, this can come off as straight-up rude to the student. If you are too in your own head, it doesn't allow your brain the space to listen to others (which is kind of required in a tutoring appointment.)
If you are not focused on the student during your appointment, this can come off as straight-up rude to the student. If you are too in your own head, it doesn't allow your brain the space to listen to others (which is kind of required in a tutoring appointment.)
Increased cynicism or pessimism
Increased cynicism or pessimism
This can be a real barrier as a tutor. If you have an increased level of cynicism or pessimism, you are at risk of making every interaction into a negative one. This leads to problems with students and working relationships.
This can be a real barrier as a tutor. If you have an increased level of cynicism or pessimism, you are at risk of making every interaction into a negative one. This leads to problems with students and working relationships.
Remember the golden rule:
Remember the golden rule:
If you can't take care of yourself, you shouldn't be taking care of others. The job of a tutor requires taking care of an individuals learning, so you must be able to take care of your own before helping others.
If you can't take care of yourself, you shouldn't be taking care of others. The job of a tutor requires taking care of an individuals learning, so you must be able to take care of your own before helping others.
Difficult Situations at Work
Difficult Situations at Work
Secondhand Trauma
Secondhand Trauma
Working in a helping/service profession, you will experience clients who reveal little (or lots!) of information about themselves; some happier moments than others. While this is not your job to help manage, it is still important to be aware of the impact this can take on your own mental health. Read about secondhand trauma here.
Working in a helping/service profession, you will experience clients who reveal little (or lots!) of information about themselves; some happier moments than others. While this is not your job to help manage, it is still important to be aware of the impact this can take on your own mental health. Read about secondhand trauma here.
Managing Emotional Exhaustion
Managing Emotional Exhaustion
Take your breaks! You get a paid 15 minute break for every 4 consecutive hours that you work. You get an unpaid 30 minute break for every 5 hours that you work. However, if we are well staffed you can take a break in-between appointments as needed, even if you're not working 4 or more hours. Just make sure you do this away from the tutor desk so you can avoid being a distraction to your colleagues!
Take your breaks! You get a paid 15 minute break for every 4 consecutive hours that you work. You get an unpaid 30 minute break for every 5 hours that you work. However, if we are well staffed you can take a break in-between appointments as needed, even if you're not working 4 or more hours. Just make sure you do this away from the tutor desk so you can avoid being a distraction to your colleagues!
Page updated
Report abuse