A Parent’s Role in Career Choices

R Sridhar, an innovation coach
based in Mumbai (and an expert
on the ParentEdge panel),
recently conducted a workshop
called ‘I WISH’ with students
of Grade 9. The workshop
facilitated a discussion on career
choices by helping students
understand their top five talents,
and then using these to explore
career options. His reflections
are captured below:
“Parents should play the role
of a facilitator. They need to
acknowledge that today’s
children could know much
more than they do. ‘I am the
parent and older, so I am
right’ is no longer valid! As a
facilitator, the parent should
first listen, without judging if
the child is right or wrong.
Children see the parents’
role as very important in the
decision-making process. So
we should avoid forcing them
into the dilemma of reconciling
their wishes with their parents’.
“Parents should understand
that the child is at a crossroads.
They don’t want to rebel, they
want a resolution. If they are
shown a reasonable way, which
stems from understanding, they
are willing to listen.”
What advice would you give parents on
being good facilitators in this process?
• Realise it is an important decision, and
be proactive and not reactive.
• Invest time and approach the
discussion in a structured manner. Do
not let it happen like the ‘flavour of
the day’; rather, get into specifics.
• Start the discussion early – in Grade 9,
as in our country the child has to make
a choice of subjects after Grade 10.
• Keep the channels of communication
open. Be accepting so that the child
can share hopes, fears and dreams with
you. This will help children be open
about their choices rather than simply
make statements which they think
their parents want to hear.
• Seek professional help to facilitate
the process better and do your best to
make children understand the ‘world of
work’.
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May - June 2013