Comments on: Indie.Biz – How to Keep an Indie Intern http://www.indyish.com/indiebiz-how-to-keep-an-indie-intern/ You might be awesome, but we are the Indyish! Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:23:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Risa Dickens http://www.indyish.com/indiebiz-how-to-keep-an-indie-intern/comment-page-1/#comment-67149 Risa Dickens Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:15:48 +0000 http://www.indyish.com/indiebiz-how-to-keep-an-indie-intern#comment-67149 True and thanks Laura! I've also noticed another thing that's related to this - which is realizing that even if you do a perfect job, they will eventually move on. Paid or unpaid, the people you work with will 9 times out of 10 need to do something new eventually. They will leave and they might even start to work in places you'd be tempted to consider competitors. But if you flip your thinking and maintain your good, mutually respectful relationships you realize that what is actually happening is that you are becoming more profoundly connected to your "competitors" through these relationships, which can make your network exponentially stronger and healthier. It's a bit of a mindfck but it really really works: Be happy for them when they leave. True and thanks Laura!

I’ve also noticed another thing that’s related to this – which is realizing that even if you do a perfect job, they will eventually move on. Paid or unpaid, the people you work with will 9 times out of 10 need to do something new eventually. They will leave and they might even start to work in places you’d be tempted to consider competitors. But if you flip your thinking and maintain your good, mutually respectful relationships you realize that what is actually happening is that you are becoming more profoundly connected to your “competitors” through these relationships, which can make your network exponentially stronger and healthier. It’s a bit of a mindfck but it really really works: Be happy for them when they leave.

]]> By: Laura Roberts http://www.indyish.com/indiebiz-how-to-keep-an-indie-intern/comment-page-1/#comment-67144 Laura Roberts Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:59:17 +0000 http://www.indyish.com/indiebiz-how-to-keep-an-indie-intern#comment-67144 Having never had an intern myself, but having watched various friends and organizations try to retain unpaid wokers, this is a really important article. I like the concept of "You can evolve with a good intern, if you’re both going to be evolving anyway." You need to be the boss, but you also need to communicate both ways, giving the intern good feedback, listening to their concerns, giving them help when they need it, letting them be independent... all good tips, and I think probably the more you work with volunteers, the more things you learn about how to keep 'em happy. Sometimes all you need is a high-five. Sometimes maybe you need to buy donuts! Having never had an intern myself, but having watched various friends and organizations try to retain unpaid wokers, this is a really important article. I like the concept of “You can evolve with a good intern, if you’re both going to be evolving anyway.” You need to be the boss, but you also need to communicate both ways, giving the intern good feedback, listening to their concerns, giving them help when they need it, letting them be independent… all good tips, and I think probably the more you work with volunteers, the more things you learn about how to keep ‘em happy. Sometimes all you need is a high-five. Sometimes maybe you need to buy donuts!

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