Professor Jones draws from April Rinne’s book Flux to explore the importance of “seeing what’s invisible” during an internship. From uncovering cultural blind spots to understanding privilege and observing emotional dynamics, students are challenged to expand their self-awareness, think with empathy, and anticipate the needs of others in the workplace.
Key Takeaways:
- Interns must learn to see beyond their own assumptions, especially around cultural norms and workplace behaviors, both locally and internationally.
- Drawing from experiences in Asia, Professor Jones shares four powerful service values: respect for elders, saving face, work-before-self culture, and a hunger for learning — lessons with global relevance.
- Awareness of privilege, especially the advantages of a college education, is essential; interns should respect the frontline expertise of coworkers who may not have had the same academic path.
- Students should build their emotional intelligence: observe reactions, patterns, and unspoken dynamics among guests and colleagues to better anticipate service needs and team interactions.
- The most effective interns think with both their heads and hearts — combining logic and empathy to develop leadership qualities that go beyond technical competence.
