Tag: compassion

There is a teacher in all of us


What I mean by that is that most of us would think that the word teacher merely applies to school settings.  I venture saying that this applies in family, social and also all professional areas as well.  To me “teacher” goes hand in hand with being a leader.  Can you think of the best teacher you have encountered?  Now think of the worst one(s).  Interesting contrast do you not agree?  My best was my English teacher here in the States while attending evening college.  Conversely, the worst was my English teacher in German high school who once asserted that I would never, ever “get” English and never be able to speak it correctly.  He was also known for throwing his key chain at students when he wanted their attention. 

Here are a few attributes that I believe you will find our best teachers have in common.  They also represent criteria that we must possess as parents and business leader-managers. 

A good teacher,

has a profound, current knowledge of the subject matter.

conducts continuous research in his field or related field.

has an intuitive understanding of human learning.

has an understanding of student motivation.

understands the proper use of assessments / exams.

exhibits empathy and compassion. 

trusts students in their ability to achieve and learn.

possess openness:  Talks about his own personal journey as well as listening to the student’s own journey. 

discusses secrets he has learned. 

treat students with decency and respect. 

is genuine and sincere. 

lets student struggle to exercise the material and tolerates mistakes made.

provides a fun and safe learning environment. 

makes the lesson about the student and not about himself or the school. 

This should sound familiar and perhaps you can think of more points that you could share with us.  While I hold fond memories of my favorite teachers, I also wrote a lovely mail to my high school English teacher in the best English that I could muster about how I learned to write and pronounce English correctly – just not in his class. 

Ponder these points in your own social and business settings and I believe you will be amazed how many times you slip into the role of a teacher every week.  . 

Ralf

Small gestures picture

Small gestures picture

This is the picture for this post: https://ralfweiser.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/never-underestimate-the-power-of-a-small-gesture/


Small gestures picture

This is the picture for this post: https://ralfweiser.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/never-underestimate-the-power-of-a-small-gesture/

Never underestimate the power of a small gesture


 

In the above picture I am holding a convenience store coffee cup that I am sure just about all of you are familiar with.  It cannot cost possible more than one Cent or two but to me it is a priceless item that makes me smile every morning that I have time getting myself another one.  Sometimes you do not realize how a small gesture of yours can mean so much to the one receiving it, that you may end up getting much more back than you ever invested. 

My mom used to visit us from Germany over the summer or the fall and she used to get a royal kick out of getting a coffee in such a paper cup.  She giggled like a school girl when she noticed the travel lids that would allow you to travel without spilling the beverage and yet also allowed you to drink it without dribbling all over yourself.  I had forgotten about this little cup up until in early 2005 just about a couple of months prior to her way to early death due to esophageal cancer.  By that time she had been on chemo and radiation treatments and I had been slated to travel to Germany to visit her in the hospital again.  She asked me if I could bring a coffee cup over so.  She did not say for what reason, but I gladly complied. 

My sister and her children and I went to visit mom at the hospital right away.  Once we got our initial “hellos” out of the way, we went to the cafeteria and that is where I handed her the little Wawa coffee cup.  Mom was so overwhelmed with joy that she nearly hugged the stuffing out of me.  I had a hard time keeping myself together, but from that moment I could never look at these cups the same way again:  This thing meant the world to her as it reminded her of all the great times we had had in the States and for a brief moment in time her life was wonderful and whole again.  In the end mom may have lost her battle with cancer back in June of 2005, but thanks to a little cup she is right there with me.  Thus the adage of how loved ones never truly leave holds true. 

I would like to inspire you to grant small gestures wherever you can, whether they are solicited or your own idea.  Make sure that you do not desire to get anything back in return and then just watch what happens.  I can make more than your day. 

Ralf