5 Quick Tips on HOW to Smoothly Navigate a Meet and Greet

Before getting into the tips, it must be stated that I am no expert at meet and greets (M&G); these are just my general tips that I remind myself of before heading into the M&G (whether alone or with a supervisor), and thought this might be useful for others in the NDIS field. 

Let us know your thoughts on these tips and if they are helpful, or if you use other methods, all feedback is great feedback. :) 

Preparation

Preperation, Preparation & Preparation!!!

Preparing doesn’t need to be long, there just needs to be some thought of preparing before arriving at the M&G.

For me, the first thought of preparation is to remember the participant's name and the names of other people that will be at the M&G, i.e Parents, Caregivers or other Support Workers. Then, it is to remember what they are wishing to get out of the service you provide and how that can positively impact their lives.

I also make sure that I bring along a notepad and a pen, so that if there is any important information that needs to be remembered, I can pop it in there.

I strongly suggest a notepad and pen rather than using your phone or laptop, as it seems more genuine and I find it is much less distracting for me and the potential participant, but whatever works best for you, do that.

Manners

Manners go a LONG way!!!

When you're doing a M&G, sometimes nerves or brain fog can get the best of you, especially if it's your first time. But some things I like to focus on (even when nervous!!):

“Hey, how are you going name?“

"That's (good/not good)...”. “ Would you like me to take my shoes off”?

When meeting a participant at home, the “would you like me to take my shoes off” is my mental cue to make sure I use my manners throughout the M&G. It's how I like to show that I respect their space, am aware of mess, and that some have different preferences!

These manners lay the foundation of building of trust & rapport between you and the participant.

Common Ground

Finding common ground with the participant is essential for a M&G to be considered successful.

For me, it's finding a common ground that is not related to the potential future work between the new participant and I. Rather, it should be something like a shared hobby, travel experience, music taste, or even a disliking to something or someone - it could literally be ANYTHING!

This common ground leads to building that genuine connection between you and the participant.

The easiest way to find common ground with a participant if it doesn’t come up in conversation is to simply observe the surroundings.

• If there is an XBOX or PLAYSTATION around, ask about their interest in gaming.

• If there is a World Map around, ask about travelling.

If there are posters with bands, ask about the band.

Listen with Genuine Interest

When conversing with the participant and they are speaking, DON’T just hear but LISTEN!

Active listening is ESSENTIAL!

As stated by my co-worker Bree in her article, “Participants are great at reading people; they often know and feel when someone is truly listening or not”.

This is VERY true. 

The way I like to show that I am actively listening is by:

• Letting the Participant speak without interruption.

• By nodding & smiling throughout their time of speaking.

• Responding with further questions or comments on what the participant spoke about.

Leave as You Arrived

Seems oxymoronic, but it is the BEST way to leave a M&G. When the time allocated is up for the M&G, simply remind yourself of tips 2, 3 & 4 again.

• Use your manners to excuse yourself.

• Let the participant know you’re excited to see them again, especially to chat more about your ‘Common Ground’.

• Finally, listen to what the participant has to say before you leave with GENUINE interest.

Conclusion

The 5 quick tips above help me personally navigate through a M&G with a new participant, as they are just mental cues for me to ensure that the M&G goes smoothly for the Participant and for myself.

A solid M&G lays the foundation for a fruitful relationship moving forward. I am so fortunate to work with awesome participants and their families.