Shawn McGowan

Is it wrong to tell someone that the conversation is leading no where? How would you end a conversation with out making the person feel like you are no longer interested in what they are saying. An example is when I have a student who only wants to come into my office to complain about something, but when you provide solutions or explanations, they are not receptive to it. I find diffusing this type of conversation challenging so the student leaves on a good note. Would it be wrong to ever let them leave on a bad note and try… >>>

Well it does give me the opportunity to try and engage them through allowing them to talk more about themselves personally. When this happens, I tend to let them tell me more about their families and focus less on the academic goals at first. Once they feel comfortable with me, we can usually get back on track to talking about the program. I also try to use it as a teaching tool to help prepare them for future employment and to help them come out of their shell a bit. However, it can be difficult, especially if there is a… >>>