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comment by WanderingEng
WanderingEng  ·  2657 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: August 16, 2017

Thanks to everyone who offered advice regarding an intern who didn't seem to "get" it. I tried some of your advice, and having him write out the process in his own words really seemed to help. I think it was useful to be able to provide feedback on his process rather than on his specific work. On the work I think he felt he had to perform right out the gate, so he'd nod and agree with the feedback we gave without really understanding or asking questions (which he may have seen as an admission of being unable, though that isn't how we'd have taken it). But by writing it down, the work product was a written explanation of him understanding, and I think it helped force him to overcome his need to perform and really think about the work.





kleinbl00  ·  2657 days ago  ·  link  ·  

If you can somehow slip into the conversation the fact that people who freely admit when they don't know are shown universal trust when they say they do know, you might find he'll ask more questions.