The Petty Committee: 3 Signs You Are Being a Petty Professional

"Well we are going to emancipate him if he can't get his grades up"

"We are just going to move you if you keep making those posts on Facebook"

"Well you aren't going to be able to go to prom if you don't stop sneaking to talk to your parents on the phone"

"Well since they run away we just gonna let her be where she wants to be"

"Well since she got pregnant maybe she can try taking care of herself"

All these are thoughts and comments made by SOCIAL WORKERS, PROFESSIONALS, JUDGES.....

About kids!

And yes, 14-20 year olds are KIDS!

They are young adults, but they still have brain functioning that identify them as KIDS!

I have a hard time many days, having conversations with young people who really don't have it all together, their lives are a big mess and they know basically nothing other than what they have learned in the streets. I have been a social worker for over 10 years now and I know enough to understand that kids are going to have a mind of their own and do what they feel they need to do, especially when they have very little guidance and even less positive influence. Yes I get frustrated with their decisions. Yes I fuss. Yes I fuss. And Yes I fuss, but I don't belittle, I don't act like a know it all and I surely ain't (yes ain't) petty in my actions towards them.

But some professionals just seem to have a really hard time leaving the petty spirit out of their lives. Here are three signs you are a Petty Professional:

1. If your client does something, like deliberately doesn't show up for an appointment you scheduled, and you get upset and don't schedule an appointment until the next month because you are mad....You are a petty professional.

2. If you go back and gossip about a young person to your co worker AND/OR another young person with malicious intent because they did something towards you and/or said something towards you...you are a petty professional

3. AND IF you at anytime in your career purposely withhold anything from a young person or avoid completing important paperwork or a task connected to their future because you know of something they did wrong...You are a petty professional.

Now I am aware that at times this track of professionalism is due to a lack of knowledge and understanding and so I oftentimes will give a petty professional the benefit of the doubt until their receiving training that is catered to their feelings. So if you have done or are doing these things you have a couple of options.

1. Get into some training FAST

I have some comprehensive training packages that I can offer to you for am individual or group price. Most of the focus is on building relationships and finding techniques that cater to the unique qualities of the youth and young adults you work with on a regular basis.

2. READ

Articles, books, blog posts. Whatever you can soak in, read it! I suggest getting an account for an online library and you can read digitally. People I have let pour into me include John Rosemond, Bryan Post, Greg Manning and Dr. Bruce Perry to name a few. Many of them focus on basic concepts that are not complicated and are trauma informed because they put the person first, which is extra important.

3. Do self checks

This is the easiest way to recover from being a petty professional. You must understand when you are out of line. I have sat in numerous meetings and as an outside onlooker I was able to see the holes of a fellow professional, but they were so jaded in believing they were right, they couldn't accept what they were doing was wrong. Shoot I have been in that category before and I talk about it in my training a lot and admit the mistakes I have made over the years. We must be transparent in order to be effective helping professionals.

I hope this is helpful to you and guides you in evaluating your practice in your everyday professional lives! If you want to book me to train you individually or to teach a professional development course, click HERE!