8.1 Chapter Overview
Do we need confidence before we can become competent, or do we need to be competent to develop confidence? This chapter examines the fundamental skills necessary for the human services intern to be competent in the discipline. Many of the topics examined focus on personality development as a tool for developing professional success.
Often people are drawn to the helping professions because of a personal struggle they were able to overcome, and now they want to help others overcome similar challenging situations. Because what called them to their profession was a powerful motivational force, the challenges awaiting them as a profession will be equally challenging because they may have to revisit episodes of their previous struggles over and over as they help their client’s attempt to overcome theirs.
Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, you will be able to do the following:
- Discuss critical components of a professional identity, including assertiveness, conflict resolution, and self-control.
- Describe strategies for building professional confidence in the face of uncertainty.
- Seek support through mentorship, accountability partners, and constructive feedback.
- Identify short and long-term professional goals using reflection and ongoing education.
Preview of Key Terms
- Accountability partner: a colleague who supports you to achieve a certain goal or follow through on a commitment.
- Communication: the verbal and non-verbal exchange of information between two or more people.
- Competence: the ability to perform successfully the duties and activities of your profession.
- Confidence: the belief that you can be successful when presented with a challenge.
- Continuous personal improvement: the need to be current by participating in training and activities that promote professional and personal growth.
- Mentoring: guidance and support given from a professional already in the field.
- Self-assessment: an informal self-evaluation of your work performance, and/or personal growth used for appraising strengths and weaknesses and developing strategies for improvement.
Chapter Overview Licenses and Attributions
“Chapter Overview” by Ivan Mancinelli-Franconi PhD is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
the belief that you can be successful when presented with a challenge.
