So, I finally did it...
After a full quarter and almost four weeks, I have ridden my bike to school, happily circumventing any need to find parking. Today, I break that record by looking outside my window, and asking myself this honest question: "Do I REALLY want to get soaked through and through again?" So, I drove through the roads I would normally take on my bike, imagining myself braving the weather, and I was truly pleased with my choice of transportation.
Aside from that, thanks to one of my intrepid readers for helping expand the dialogue in my last post greatly! In case any others are curious, we were expounding upon the nature of integrity and truth, specifically as it relates to integrity and the truth of integrity being rooted in the Truth being with the Christian God. If any one else would like to comment on that, please go ahead by all means!
As of today, I'll keep it short and sweet. I've been thinking about how I sometimes act around others, and what is the deal sometimes with how difficult it can be to simply go into a social situation, act and say what you need, and leave knowing that you dictated what you needed and it was done in a satisfactory manner. Perhaps this will be more evident through an example of such a situation.
So, before I meet with my adviser, I think of what I want to say and how I would like to say it (eg. with sincerity, humility, etc.) and then I go and meet him. I instantly get all flustered and say the necessities, yet I go away with a sense of "I could have said that better..." as in, I might have said it in a way that didn't make me seem (fill in blank) when I really wanted to express (fill in the blank). What is it?
I've often thought of the boundaries created when authority is given, and the social hierarchy placed. That probably has something to do with it. Likely, it also has much to do with the perception I get that there is this fuzzy dual role of peer/friend and mentor that surrounds the situation.
So, in keeping this short and simple, I will ask this: What are the boundaries (if any) that should be placed between being friendly and being in an authority role? I have my own ideas, but let's hear yours!
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I am also really glad that you drove to class today. :)
ReplyDeleteI think that, typically, being friendly makes those in authority more effective. Especially in an advisor/mentor role - you have to establish some kind of rapport in order to inspire confidence and build a good working relationship. BUT I think the danger is becoming TOO friendly, seeming too easy-going or sharing too much of your personal life, and thus losing authority or respect in your student's/employee's/etc. eyes. How friendly IS too friendly? A lot of authority figures have learned to balance this successfully - which I think is something of an art.