Leadership

[jakeemtrn]

I recently became 3 rd Lt at my local emergency squad. Being a leader... a true leader is hard. Part of my duties are the cadets. The cadets are 16-18 y.o.'s who are interested in EMS. I now have a brand new cadet who is a only child. He only recently started answering the phone because he was scared who was on the other line. The first thing he has taken the initiative on was joining the squad. He is very smart and easily passed the exam. He quickly picks up all the advanced medical concepts I throw at him as a MICN and a Nurse. But I can't get him to pull his hands out of his pockets when it comes to actually doing the tasks. He is so scared of messing it up. I have tried to have him roll play so that he can gain confidence but I still have to encourage him. I am at the end of my wits. He is making babe steps but with a patients life on the line 2 years He needs to move a bit faster. I have no kids but these kids are trying me the same. Any ideas are more than welcome

 

[BagfullofPings]

Throw him into the fire.

 

[jakeemtrn]

I have thought about it. But he is such a good kid.... I really want him to succeed. I am just at a loss as what to do to motivate him. I do not want to scare him away.

 

[cba191]

Are the tasks you are giving him life and death? If not, make sure that everyone will make them. He just needs to make sure he learns from those mistakes.

 

[BagfullofPings]

He will be making life and death decisions. He needs to be scared. He will either fail or he will soar. You already know he has the knowledge. At some point the your bird has to be kicked out of the nest.

Jason

 

[cba191]

My question is, as a cadet, are the decisions he makes life and death? If he's afraid to do anything, it might not be the career for him. But if he has the ability to learn from mistakes, reinforce to him that he won't necessarily be judges on the mistake, but on what he learns from them.

 

[bohizzle]

You know I think that you need to throw him into a situation that only he is able to do. Maybe when you 2 are alone, something that will not hurt him but will make him realize that he does have the ability to do it!!! Just my 2 cents but that is what I would try!!!!

 

[jakeemtrn]

No.... He is not incharge or the life or death decisions.. atleast not for another 2 yrs

 

[RigilKent]

i would talk to him and tell him that some day soon you will be making him do something hard he wont know when but you will making him make decisions that way he knows he has to succeed but also has to be ready at any time. but i agree throw him out there

 

[Soundwave13]

Not enough info.

Could be your being impatient. Maybe he needs some time to gain the confidence - be greatfull he cares that much.

Could be he's not suited for the work. Passing a test is one thing, taking it to the real world is another. Some people don't intuitively know how to 'man-up'.

Could be you just need to sit him down and give him an honest, tactfull evaluation. Explaining that he has the education & you believe in him, but that reaction time is critical in this particular field - all the book-smarts in the world don't help if you don't get to action quick enough.

 

[Mitch]

I just know training soldiers, and for that the key was success, give them so many small tasks they can't mess up that they soon believe they can do anything at all. As for your kid, I knew plenty like him and some come through and some don't, no mater how hard you try. Good luck to both of you.