Category: leadership thoughts

Characteristics of a good teacher*

Everybody likes getting the gold star, amiright?

*”teacher” being a descriptor of anyone who does the work of teaching others, not just those who wear the occupational title.

An optimal learning environment requires a good teacher. A good teacher is a leader who possesses the following qualities that positively convey whatever is being taught and affect the vitality of the group’s learning, interpretation, contextualization, and application:

  • Has common sense. A good teacher knows and does what is right.
  • Has integrity. Walks securely and deals exclusively in the commodity of truth.
  • Is humble. Able to receive correction, listens, and is willing to grow.
  • Is dependable. Keeps their word.
  • Has and keeps priorities. Knows goals and works purposefully toward good.
  • Is generous. Gives selflessly to others, shows kindness.
  • Respects others. Listens to and values others.
  • Treats tasks as opportunities. Approaches all things positively.
  • Utilizes talents, skills, giftedness, and abilities daily. Searches for ways to use everything they’ve been equipped with for the opportunities before them.
  • Expecting positive outcomes daily. Believes in and operates from a mindset that noble deeds are worthwhile and will produce noble outcomes.
  • Speaks well of others. Sees every other person as valuable and worthy of their best effort, and speaks of them accordingly.
  • Is enthusiastic. Is excited about teaching and isn’t afraid to show it.
  • Is passionate about their subject. Is a student themselves and shares their own discoveries.
  • Is contagious with their subject. Their enthusiasm and passion infects learners.
  • Teaches others. Intentionally instructs, seeks to provide understanding and personalization.
  • Encourages others. Urges and motivates others to create and innovate from what they learn.
  • Loves people. Has a genuine love for all people, including strangers.

What would you add to this list?

Killer phrases and overcoming them

idea killers, one phrase at a time

Gathered from various sources…the phrases that shut down innovation, ideas, creativity, and advance (in no particular order):

  • We’ve already tried that.
  • We’ve never done it that way before.
  • That won’t work.
  • Our people won’t do that.
  • Let’s stick with what works.
  • Stay in your lane.
  • That’s not in your job description.
  • That may look good on paper…
  • That’s not practical.
  • That’s too much.
  • We don’t have budget.
  • That’ll never sell up line.
  • People won’t buy in to that vision.
  • That’s not for us.
  • We don’t have the personnel for it.
  • That’s not our culture.
  • People will leave.
  • Nobody will come.
  • Form a committee.
  • Take it to the committee.
  • What did the committee think?
  • Are you trying to fix something that’s not broken?

Then, the nonverbal/hard to articulate responses:

oh stanley
  • laughter
  • eye rolls
  • condescension
  • looking away/looking at watch/phones/laptops
  • dead silence

“Suicidal” idea killers – counterproductive phrases/things we say to ourselves:

  • I’m not smart enough
  • I’m too young
  • I’m too old
  • somebody’s probably already thought of that
  • I can’t make it happen
  • I’ll get back to that idea later
  • It’s too risky
  • It’s not risky enough
  • It won’t make a difference
  • I’m too early
  • I’m too late
  • It’s too simple
  • It’s too complex
  • Nobody will like it
  • Nobody will support it

When killer phrases come, consider the following:

  • Recognize the source. Is it internal or external? Is it institutionalized, or just a rando dysfunctional thought? Is it coming from someone who is threatened by it, by a chronically negative person, or someone who is asking a genuine question or poses a challenge that can make your good idea great?
  • Determine your “other than death” options. Ignore what’s ignorable, answer what demands answers, and innovate your innovation. Refine, improve, advance! Seek wisdom and take smart risks to move forward.

Don’t let it get you down or stop you! Be relentless about improving, innovating, creating, and advancing!

5 C’s of Leadership +5 More

leadership in the note of c

From Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, and one of only 12 female CEOs of a Fortune 500 Company (at the time of the writing of this list): 

  • Competency. Stand out from the pack and be a lifelong learner. Remain ahead and abreast in your field.
  • Courage and Confidence. Speak out.  Establish your knowledge base and be confident in it as a leader.
  • Communication. Over-invest in written and oral communication. Leaders constantly have to motivate the troops.
  • Consistency. Remaining steady, reliable, and determined allows for credibility and a baseline to measure your successes and failures.
  • Compass. Integrity is critical in this job.

Source: Jessica Miller-Merrill

Additional thoughts:

  1. Being good at what you do includes a commitment to always being better.
  2. Confidence comes from applying what you know to the context of the opportunity. Confidence empowers you to take intelligent risks.
  3. Communication is more than talking…it’s about cooperating with others….followers, colleagues, and everyone else!
  4. Faithfulness is perhaps the most vastly underrated value. Keep doing what works by staying connected to the vision, mission, and values that guide you..
  5. If you’re doing what works, and it isn’t also right, then it doesn’t work. Be clear-headed about what is right, above all.