Peer support is a valuable skill that can help you build trust, respect, and collaboration with your colleagues. It can also help you and your peers achieve your career goals by providing encouragement, feedback, and resources. But how can you show support for your peers' career goals in a way that is genuine, helpful, and respectful? Here are some tips to consider.
One of the best ways to show support for your peers' career goals is to listen actively to what they have to say. Listening actively means paying attention, asking open-ended questions, reflecting back what you hear, and showing empathy. By listening actively, you can understand your peers' aspirations, challenges, and needs better. You can also show them that you care about their success and well-being.
Sometimes a person just needs to say all they are thinking and feeling out to a person they know actively cares about them and their success. Actively listening as your friend and/or coworker works through their issues allows them to come to better conclusions.
Another way to show support for your peers' career goals is to share your own experiences and insights. Sharing your experiences can help your peers learn from your mistakes, achievements, and lessons. It can also help them see different perspectives and possibilities for their own career paths. However, be careful not to impose your views or opinions on your peers. Instead, offer your experiences as suggestions or examples that they can take or leave as they wish.
When someone is telling me about an issue or struggle they may have, I give an example from my life experiences as well as what I did in the similar situation. I emphasize that they don't have to do the same as I did, but having the situation displayed like that helps illustrate their options and likely outcomes so they can do better than I did.
A third way to show support for your peers' career goals is to offer feedback and advice when they ask for it or when it is appropriate. Feedback and advice can help your peers improve their skills, performance, and confidence. It can also help them overcome obstacles and challenges that they may face. However, be sure to give feedback and advice that is constructive, honest, and respectful. Avoid being judgmental, critical, or patronizing. Also, respect your peers' autonomy and choices. Don't try to solve their problems for them or tell them what to do.
I help my coworkers review what went well, what needs improvement, and how to do better next time. We hep each other succeed after each task by doing this, bringing our different perspectives to the situation to create new insight.
A fourth way to show support for your peers' career goals is to celebrate their achievements and milestones. Celebrating their achievements can help your peers feel recognized, appreciated, and motivated. It can also help them see their progress and potential. You can celebrate their achievements by giving them compliments, praise, or recognition. You can also celebrate their achievements by joining them in their celebrations, such as parties, events, or awards ceremonies.
A fifth way to show support for your peers' career goals is to provide resources and referrals that can help them advance their careers. Resources and referrals can include information, tools, contacts, opportunities, or networks that can help your peers learn new skills, gain new experiences, or access new possibilities. You can provide resources and referrals by sharing your knowledge, expertise, or connections. You can also provide resources and referrals by introducing your peers to people or organizations that can help them achieve their career goals.
A sixth way to show support for your peers' career goals is to respect their decisions and preferences. Respecting their decisions means acknowledging that they have the right and responsibility to make their own choices about their careers. It also means accepting that they may have different goals, values, or interests than you. Respecting their decisions can help you avoid conflicts, misunderstandings, or resentment. It can also help you maintain a positive and supportive relationship with your peers.
Recently, a friend wanted to switch careers. I listened to her plans, helped with research, hooked her up with pros, and had her back at networking events. We cheered each other on through wins and got through the tough stuff together, making our career journeys way more fun.
Cheering both on ups & down ,will add motivation which will go a long both the individual as well as the Team's. After all man is a social person needs other's more in turbulent times