Teachers, Leaders!
Because of this unpredictable period of life I am facing where my 3 year old son is getting spinal treatments, I wasn’t teaching my students consistently.
Honestly I miss teaching. Yes it is hard work but I miss the connection and meaningful relationships I form with the students during and after teaching. So many moments and memories are crafted.
Sometimes when I look at my teaching profession from a distance, I ask myself this question: As a teacher, how can you lead and make a difference?
Well there are so many ways. But first, a critical question to ask is: Who is your target people? What daily problems they are facing? What common conversations they are having? What are their specific needs?
Then accordingly you shape and adjust your leading strategy. You form your vision and mission. You put your tools and tactics to do daily to direct you to that vision.
The most important part of our work as teachers is we get to have conversations with our students. For that conversation, ask yourself: What are you deep heart intentions? Are you just following the curriculum to complete a course? Are you teaching to complete your job description checklist? Are you delivering classes to prove something in your performance evaluation record?
Or probably our wholehearted intentions could be: Teaching to make a difference in the students’ minds? Conducting classes to solve problems and facilitate students’ engagement? Delivering content to plant seeds for the next generation to come? Or preparing your lecture notes to equip students with skills, practicalities and real practices they can take with them back home and into their professional lives?
Processing and reflecting can really help us come out of the limited box of teaching created by the institute. Think about it deeply. Teaching is not just merely teaching. It is something very generous, selfless, impactful, front-line and unlimited. Think outside the box. Listen and pay attention. And then figure it out how can you extend your magical influence.