Objective 3: Establish a Working Relationship

As a Digital Ambassador, your relationship with the older adults you are working with should be a working relationship. At that moment, you are not interacting as their friend–even if you know the adult outside of the program. You can be friendly, but you are not in the role of their friend when you are a Digital Ambassador. It’s important you both respect the boundaries of the professional relationship you have.

Boundaries are like invisible lines that define what's acceptable and what's not when you’re interacting with someone else. Respecting boundaries helps create a trusting and comfortable environment. Understanding and respecting boundaries is a two-way street. It's about recognizing and honoring the invisible lines that define comfort and appropriateness for both you and others. By being attentive, communicating openly, and handling situations with care and respect, you can build trust and positive working relationships with the people you work with. 

One way to establish a working relationship is to share your Personal Code of Conduct. If your team has a document detailing norms or agreements, you may want to share that one instead. That helps the people you’re working with understand that you are there as a professional to help them out. That doesn’t mean you still can’t be friendly, and maybe even laugh and have a good time with your adult learner.