Whether deaf or hearing, successful people prepare, plan and persist to realise their goals.
Short-term Goal Orientation occurs within minutes, hours or days; long-term over weeks, months or years. Goal Orientation can be Short or Long Term. Ordering food at Subway exemplifies short-term Goal Orientation. Whether deaf or hearing, the novice can be overwhelmed. Acoustics are terrible. Ordering off the menu is different than elsewhere. A queue of other customers may pressure you from behind. Embarrassment can trigger panic. Everything is left to chance when you are without a plan, relying only on visual cues and not-so-perfect hearing. Knowing what to expect, however, significantly assists your chances of achieving the goal – walking away with a sandwich in hand.
Listening and/or speech-reading is much easier when you know what to expect. For instance, the Subway attendant will not ask “How’s your grandmother?” nor state “Antarctica is the lost continent of Atlantis.” Their words will be specific to the context – making a sandwich. We can see this in the following 12 prompts. These prompts show the real-time step-by-step process of ordering food at Subway.
The process begins with you stating what type of sandwich you would like (e.g., “I’ll have an Italian BLT please”).
The server will then ask: “What type of bread would you like?”
You then: pick your bread (e.g., wholemeat etc.).
Server: “What size bread would you like?”
You: pick either a footlong or a six-incher.
Server: “What type meat would you like?”
You: pick meat (salami etc.)
Server: “What type of cheese would you like?”
You: pick cheese (Old English etc.)
Server: “Would you like it toasted?”
You: Yes or no.
Server: “What type of salad would you like?”
You: pick what salad you want or don’t want.
Server: “Salt and pepper?”
You: Yes or no.
Server: “What type of sauce would you like?”
You: pick sauce (BBQ etc.)
Server: “Would you like a combo meal?”
You: Yes or no.
Server: “Eat here or to go?”
You: state your preference.
The server will then state the price of the meal. Once paid for, you will have completed the goal orientated process of ordering a sandwich at Subway.
It is my experience that Subway has the most complex processes of ordering a service. Yes, the one and only. There are more prompts in the service than at any other place that offers a service. If your child can master this process, s/he can master any other process where a service is offered. Yes, any. The processes at other places are easier to understand and to carry out. For examples, a supermarket, a bank, or a bar can have as few as three steps. Understanding, not hearing, the process is required to follow these steps until completion. A person who is deaf could therefore order a sub without hearing aids. Knowing what will be said at every prompt significantly helps to provide appropriate and timely replies until the process is completed.
Pre-preparedness significantly helps us to perform everyday tasks that most hearing people can do easily. This is particularly true in places that offer a service. Beforehand, it is helpful to mentally rehearse your actions step-by-step. Visualise every prompt in the process and how you will reply. In addition, factor in possible distractions. For examples, one Subway attendant may take another’s role, someone – for whatever reason – may burst out laughing or another may spill a drink. Random events – however seldom – do happen when “in action.” And these can be distracting. Having thought of alternatives, however, you’ll be ready to respond. Pre-preparedness helps you to correctly “think on your feet” as you go through the step-by-step process.
Knowing the process also helps to calm nerves when in action. Knowing what to expect in given circumstances increases confidence, focuses energy and reduces the variables. This tactical knowledge accumulates over time and with practice. In other words, your social skills improve the more you experience different environments and different people. Once mastered, it’s not forgotten: the process remains the same. Repetition strengthens confidence: practice makes perfect. In making decisions for and about ourselves, we learn how to plan and be responsible for the consequences.
Whether short-term or long-term, successful Goal Orientation requires pre-preparedness and following step-by-step processes. Parents can teach this knowledge, especially if they work “with” rather than “for” their child. This shift is a subtle but important. Working foryour child can create conflict and frustration. This was initially the case with Tristan and his parents in my Desire column. But, as we saw, Tristan’s parents began to work with him. Goal Orientation is the next step for this family because their shared goals are just the beginning.
Careful and realistic planning significantly smoothes the transition from school to “real” life. This is why I asked in my previous column, “Are there any friends or family who can provide your child with paid employment whilst at school?” If yes, then this work experience for your child will be invaluable. Chronic unemployment and under-employment are problems for many adults with deafness (Rosengreen, Saladin & Hansmann, 2009). Early work experience goes a long way toward building skills and learning about how workplaces operate. It also provides social exposure. Explore other avenues, however, if you cannot find an employment option for your child. Key employment and transitional support services may offer help in the form of career advisors, educational psychologists, social workers and transport arrangements.
In conclusion, Renee Punch, Peter Creed and Merv Hyde (2005) conducted a remarkable study of Goal Orientation in adolescents who are deaf. This Australian study showed that 65 students who were deaf generally showed more realistic views and achievable career goals than 107 same-aged hearing peers. The students who were deaf generally showed greater career maturity, a better understanding of perceived career barriers and less career indecision. Their parents had purposefully directed their children towards professions that suited and optimised their strengths. Their children were also steered away from professions wherein their weaknesses would be exposed. Being aware of possible career barriers and outcomes prevents future trouble. Importantly, this study showed that hearing ability has little or nothing to do with Goal Orientation. Pre-preparedness is purely a thinking strategy that helps us to organise and direct the best of our energies and skills. This orientation towards our goals helps to maximise our social and professional potential.
Goal Orientation is the third of eight themes that create Potential Maximisation. The following exercise is a practical application of Goal Orientation.
Exercise
Compile lists of the processes in places that require a process (e.g., supermarket, bank, movie theatre etc.). Sit with your child and take them through these processes one by one before doing the process “live.” At first, give encouragement. If they make mistakes or want to give up, remind them of the process. The idea is to increase their independence so they can complete these processes without fear.
The following question prepares you for the next column’s theme of Reframing.
Question: Has there been a particularly unpleasant recent experience related to your child’s deafness?
“We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and to do other things. Not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organise and measure the best of our energies and skills; because the challenge is one that we are willing to accept; one we are unwilling to postpone; and one which we intend to win.” – John F. Kennedy, 1962, seven years before the moon landing.
References
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