Show vulnerability
A good practice to build trust is peer supervision. This is a way to discuss personal cases in a structured way so that new insights arise for the case submitter. Openly discussing things you find difficult helps in creating mutual trust. We see the human in each other, and thus we understand each other better. It is essential that someone takes the first step in openness and vulnerability so that others can follow. You can therefore be the first to organize peer supervision with some colleagues and discuss a situation you find difficult.
For a good peer supervision session , you can use the following structure:
- Form a group of five or six people with approximately the same role but different experiences. To create an open atmosphere, this group should be fixed in composition. Familiar faces can either hinder or stimulate an open atmosphere.
- Plan meetings. Determine the frequency of the meetings with the group. Once a month is a reasonably good frequency. Decide in advance who will bring forward the case to be discussed during the meeting. You can also discuss multiple cases in one meeting.
- Appoint one person as the process facilitator. This person keeps an eye on the time and the rules but can also participate. Determine, if not already done, which case will be discussed. Decide how long each step will take. Guidelines for a one-hour session are given below.
The six steps of the peer supervision session:
- (Five mins.) The case submitter discusses the case, backgrounds, etc. By sharing it with others, the submitter already gets a better picture of his or her problem.
- (Fifteen mins.) The others ask questions to gain insight into the case. It is important that they don’t draw conclusions, give interpretations, or come up with solutions yet. They should keep asking until they fully understand the problem. This is a good exercise for those who are generally inclined to think in solutions quickly. The questioning can be structured in rounds or free format.
- (Five mins.) Let one of the others summarize the case. Others may add to it. The submitter gets a different perspective on the case or a clearer understanding of what it entails through this feedback. The submitter indicates whether he or she agrees with the summary and adds if necessary.
- (Fifteen mins.) Everyone gets the opportunity to tell the submitter solutions and tips. The submitter indicates what he or she thinks of these solutions and tips.
- (Five mins.) The submitter summarizes the received solutions and tips and tells what he or she will do with them.
- (Five mins.) Evaluate what everyone thinks of the peer supervision session and whether it is worth repeating.
