I had a quick meeting with my assessor just after morning worship. She was a little concerned about a line in my PDI report. The interviewer had written "Because she is so intelligent and can often see clearly where she wishes to lead the group - how can she achieve this without conflict!"(Punctuation is the interviewer's).
I must admit, that was the one line in the report where I thought, hang on, where did that come from? Most of the interview I thought I showed little experience of leading groups, as I do have little experience of this.
My assessor brought it to my attention so I could think about how to respond if that line is picked up on at my local review. I was glad she did - at least I won't be too thrown if one does. It also shows how much she thinks of me, which is very humbling.
I don't want to focus on this too much, but just need to keep this in mind. I'd hate to have started to mature and grow in ways I never envisioned, following God's call for me, and let this get in the way of following the path He has prepared ahead of me.
The assessor's statement will be something that will be concentrated on at Selection Conference. Especially, they will look for how you respond in group situations -eg we had to get an egg to drop in a bucket without it breaking. How do you manage/contribute in such a situation? Or when you have to do the exercise in resolving a conflict in the parish, how would you go about it?
ReplyDeleteWhen you have your cosy chat with the psychologist and the assessors, don't be fooled. You will be pressed - ever so gently - on this aspect.
Preparation is all. Remember, they are looking for people who are self-aware and able to learn. You know you can do it!
Hi CB
ReplyDeleteYes, preperation is key. I know that's why my assessor brought it to my attention (the comment was from my PDI interviewer).
Eggs in buckets?! Sounds like the people running selection conferences were scouters/guiders once!
As JohnO has commented here before, being prepared for these sort of questions is in my favour. I just hope I don't focus on them too much and miss everything else.
Just have to wait and see how my local review goes first. I want to see if my eggs are going to hatch, then I'll count them!!!
Thanks again for the helpful advice.
'Most of the interview I thought I showed little experience of leading groups, as I do have little experience of this.'
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure the PDI is commenting on your experience of lack of re. leading groups.... As I read it - and remember, it will be read in many different ways by the local rev. and potentially assessment folks because we all bring our own agendas/ issues to stuff :) - as I read it, my feeling is that the tone might be more about the manner in which you possibly interact with folk when in a group situation, about listening skills, and openness to others. Or at least you might want to demonstrate to folks interviewing you that you have been reflecting on these due to the comment?
Questions you might get from panels, and that I might be asking myself as I reflect would be:
[and excuse me if this is one of those 'teaching you to suck eggs' kinds of things, you probably already know it, but sometimes it's just good to write it down and thrash it out!!]
1/ In a group situation, are you more strongly task-oriented or more strongly people-oriented?
[yes, we need to be both, but we all naturally fall into a preference re. ways of approach. It's neither better nor worse to be one or t'other]
2/ If you do see a clear objective or desired outcome within a group situation, how do you set about achieving it?
Polarised extremes here, but... what tends to be your view of what 'leaders' and 'leadership' are? And is your approach more strongly directive or more consensus-oriented? [We all fall somewhere on that spectrum too. Strong leadership doesn't just have to mean fascist dictatorship - mind, at least the trains would run on time...]
and... given your PDI's comment re. conflict...
3/ how might the current ways you go about achieving goals in group situations create situations in which conflict might be an outcome?
so a set of sub questions for reflection on this last question:
i/ what are ways in which you might invite those in the group to feel able to contribute more? what skills do they bring to the task that could be utilised effectively?
ii/ are you noticing those in the group who tend to dominate and those who might be 'shut down' by others? this is a great potential area for resentment to build/ or destructive passive-aggressive sabotage of the project to happen.
iii/ along similar lines: atmosphere - are they listening to each other and talking with each other respectfully and if not, how do you create the atmosphere where that can happen? a so-called 'safe space'?
iv/ are you listening to each of the group or are you shutting them down because you already 'know how to do the thing best'... or at least, is that how you might be inadvertently coming across? How can you make each one in the group feel that their contributions won't be dismissed?
v/ where are your 'trigger' points? in the midst of a group activity, what are subconscious things that might set you off and that may have nothing to do with the task or people? what are the unhelpful agendas you might bring to the group and how can you spot them when they pop up and deactivate 'em? have you got to know and have compassion on and for your darker side?
Dunno, just some thoughts mate. Hope that's vaguely useful?
Look forward to hearing how you've got on...!!! :)
Hi Nik
ReplyDeleteThank you for your brilliant (and detailed) comment. Yes, some of that I have thought about. After my last placement I am much more aware of how I deal with groups and my body language, interaction etc. I just haven't put it into practice or, if I have, I haven't been aware I was, if that makes sense?
I'll just wait and see what my local review brings. With my assessor bringing the quote up and your questions, I'll hopefully be prepared for that, if I am asked about it. Knowing my luck, I'll be asked about something I've never thought about before and I'll get totally thrown.
Al least I know lots of people are praying for me. As long as God's on my side and I am following his call, I'm sure all will be well.