Peer Support and Peer Support and EvaluationEvaluation

Presented byPresented by

Mr. Nelson AllanMr. Nelson Allan

(Teaching and Learning (Teaching and Learning Centre)Centre)

Peer Support- the definitionPeer Support- the definition

A structured relationship in A structured relationship in which people meet in order to which people meet in order to provide or exchange provide or exchange emotional support with others emotional support with others facing similar challenges.facing similar challenges.

People SkillPeople Skill

In today’s environment of In today’s environment of globalization more challenges are globalization more challenges are created as compared to the past. created as compared to the past. How?How?

People skills are a combination of People skills are a combination of good inter-personal skill (being able good inter-personal skill (being able to work well with others) and intra-to work well with others) and intra-personal skills (being able to manage personal skills (being able to manage one’s own attitudes and emotions).one’s own attitudes and emotions).

Developing rapportDeveloping rapport

Forming a good rapport is the Forming a good rapport is the cornerstone of relationships with cornerstone of relationships with other people.other people.

The following behaviors are required The following behaviors are required in developing rapport:in developing rapport:

““Making a connection”Making a connection”

Develops trust and long term friendship. Develops trust and long term friendship. How can this be achieved? By:How can this be achieved? By:

Making eye contactMaking eye contact Giving a genuine smileGiving a genuine smile Being helpful when askedBeing helpful when asked Showing basic considerationShowing basic consideration Showing a friendly and polite mannerShowing a friendly and polite manner Being interested without being intrusiveBeing interested without being intrusive Being consistent in behaviorBeing consistent in behavior

Taking genuine interestTaking genuine interest

Generally we appreciate people with similar Generally we appreciate people with similar values and beliefs to our own. We don’t like values and beliefs to our own. We don’t like to feel that we are “wrong” while they are to feel that we are “wrong” while they are “right”. As we develop people skills we can “right”. As we develop people skills we can start to accept a wider range of differences start to accept a wider range of differences in other people. We learn to find the point of in other people. We learn to find the point of interest in difference and the value of interest in difference and the value of diversity. We cease to see the world in diversity. We cease to see the world in terms of “right” and “wrong”, but as a rich terms of “right” and “wrong”, but as a rich spectrum.spectrum.

Benefits of finding the point of Benefits of finding the point of interest in other people are that:interest in other people are that:

We find the world around us to be We find the world around us to be more interestingmore interesting

Boredom disappears and our life Boredom disappears and our life experience is richerexperience is richer

We feel more comfortable, We feel more comfortable, emotionally, when with strangersemotionally, when with strangers

Benefits of finding the point of Benefits of finding the point of interest in other people are that:interest in other people are that:

People are able to feel more People are able to feel more comfortable around uscomfortable around us

We have a better understanding of We have a better understanding of the world around us and of the the world around us and of the motivations of othersmotivations of others

We are better able to manage any We are better able to manage any situation that involves other peoplesituation that involves other people

Skilful listeningSkilful listening

Listening is something we take for Listening is something we take for granted. Skilful listening is about granted. Skilful listening is about more than “hearing the words”. It more than “hearing the words”. It involves understanding the message, involves understanding the message, the situation and other people.the situation and other people.

Good listening skills enable other Good listening skills enable other people to feel at ease, to trust the people to feel at ease, to trust the listener, and to express more easily listener, and to express more easily what they really wish to what they really wish to communicate.communicate.

Good listening skills involves:Good listening skills involves:

Body languageBody language Allowing people to finish speaking without Allowing people to finish speaking without

interruptinginterrupting Listening for the underlying message. Listening for the underlying message.

What does the person really mean?What does the person really mean? Feedback. The only way to be sure what is Feedback. The only way to be sure what is

being said is to feed it back to the person being said is to feed it back to the person and check their responses.and check their responses.

Clarify detailsClarify details Leave silencesLeave silences

Developing mutual trustDeveloping mutual trust

ReflectionReflection Who do you really trust with your secrets?Who do you really trust with your secrets? Who do you really trust with your money?Who do you really trust with your money? Who do you trust to tell you the truth Who do you trust to tell you the truth

about themselves?about themselves? Who do you trust to tell you the truth Who do you trust to tell you the truth

about yourself?about yourself?

In each case, what has led to theIn each case, what has led to the

development of that trust?development of that trust?

SummarySummary

The meaning of peer supportThe meaning of peer support Peer Support can be achieved Peer Support can be achieved

through having good people skillthrough having good people skill Building lasting relationship through Building lasting relationship through

by developing rapportby developing rapport Understanding the behaviors Understanding the behaviors

required in developing rapportrequired in developing rapport