To Teach is to Succeed
Kristine Ranger, M.Ed.
Through-out my consulting career in helping 100’s of new and existing businesses, I have tracked numerous
indicators, but one consistently rises to the top: the behavior of management and leadership within the
organization. With the wide array of skills and skill levels required of leaders, it is difficult to know where to
start improving, but as I was preparing for a new teaching assignment at our local community college, the lights
came on. A flood light, mind you! I realized that to be an effective manager or leader, you must also be a great
teacher. To become a high performing team, you must also become great teachers.
What does it mean to be a great teacher? You would think I might know, since I have been in and out of the
classroom since 1979 when I received my teaching certificate from Michigan State University. Many times I
just did things because they felt right, not understanding the behavioral science or reasoning behind my actions.
As it turns out, I have been doing many of the same things that other teachers do because good teaching is
universal; the same principles and many of the same techniques apply anywhere. The ideas below came from a
survey of all sorts of teachers, formally in schools, informally – in their offices, during dinner, on the fly – as
they’re running classrooms or companies.
While thinking about all of your employees as learners, complete this self-evaluation by checking the items that
apply to you.
____ 1. I ask, “what are my employees or teammates going to do today”, not “what am I going to do today?” Move into
the role of guide or “Knowledge Navigator” as you share what you know. This helps keep the focus on them, not you.
____ 2. I know the people I work with. In order to teach them, you need to know their talents, natural behavioral
preferences and needs. Otherwise, how can you know for certain what they already know and what they need to learn?
Self-awareness is an important first step that can be accomplished using self-assessing profiles that cover behavioral
styles, learning styles, team innovative roles and other topics.
____ 3. I create a safe leaning environment. Admitting what you know, taking risks and rethinking what you thought you
knew can be uncomfortable and scary. Letting learners customize their spaces and celebrate successes leads to emotional,
intellectual and psychological safe environments in the workplace.
____ 4. I have a passion for teaching. (And it shows). Your desire to help others learn must be genuine because learners
can tell whether you care or not.
____ 5. I help my employees or coworkers discover how much they need to learn. Some people aren’t ready to learn
because they don’t think they need to improve. They don’t see the gaps between where they are and where they need to
be. Finding and discussing those gaps in a coaching role will lead to teachable moments.
____ 6. I keep it simple. If not, I keep it clear. The ability to break down complex ideas and make them understandable is
the chief attribute of a great teacher. The essence of teaching and learning is communication. People must understand the
business story – where you are headed, why you are making changes, how you work, and how you think.
____ 7. I practice vulnerability without sacrificing credibility. People who believe they must have all the answers make
the worst teachers. Don’t be an expert; by definition it is “someone who has quit learning”. Understand that sometimes
the best answer is, “I don’t know”. While a deep connection exists between people who acknowledge their struggles,
leaders are still responsible for having the answers to certain questions.
____ 8. I teach from the heart. The act of teaching requires the courage to explore one’s sense of identity. “If you don’t
fully know yourself, you can’t fully know your learners and therefore, you can’t connect with them” says Parker Palmer, a
longtime instructor and author of The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life (Jossey-Bass,
The Learning Connection, 1998.
Learn.Know.Share.Grow.
1997). The Personal Profile System®, based on DiSC® Dimension of Behavior, is used worldwide for helping people
better understand themselves and others and provides a foundation for building better relationships both in and out of the
classroom.
____ 9. I repeat the important points. People have to be exposed to something new at least five times before they learn it.
The best teachers keep that mission statement or goal fresh by finding new ways to express the same points. Rather than
give it to them the same way each time, try to find a new slant without changing the message.
____ 9. I repeat the important points.
___ 10. I ask good questions. Effective teachers understand that learning is about exploring the unknown and facing
fears. Exploration begins with open-ended questions that open a door to deeper understanding. A useful tool used in
quality circles to get at the root of something is to ask “Why” five times.
___ 11. I’m not passing out information. My favorite quote is from Socrates who said, “I cannot teach you anything, I can
only make you think.” The best leaders help people think out loud by creating a safe and trusting environment that
encourages workers to share their knowledge. A high performing team knows what is best for the business, yet they are
free to make the day-to-day judgements themselves.
___ 12. I listen. Effective learning is a two-way street: It’s a dialogue, not a monologue! Late, great county singer Keith
Whitley had a hit song with the phrase, “you say it best, when you say nothing at all” to emphasize the importance of
pauses. Get comfortable with flexing your listening approach and the power of silence if you want to be a great teacher.
___ 13. I know what to listen for. You want to know if people can relate work outcomes to the mission of the business.
Are they aware of customer’s needs? Do they speak the industry or company language? Listening for information serves
an important purpose in business, but don’t neglect the need for empathic listening as well. Listening for emotions,
feelings and values is a strategic skill for relationship management, but one that is seldom taught – even to teachers.
Discover your listening approach with the Personal Listening Profile®, available from The Learning Connection.
___ 14. I let my learners teach each other. To teach is to learn. Everyone has a piece of relevant information to enrich
the learning experience. Peer groups are powerful sources of comprehension and understanding. If you have subject
matter experts in-house, capturing their knowledge in an ebook is an easy way to enhance your credibility with customers.
___ 15. I avoid using the same approach with everyone. Good teachers understand that all people can learn- they just do
it differently. Some like visuals, others learn best by silent reading. The Personal Learning Insights Profile® is an easyto-use learning strategy that helps people identify and understand how they experience, process, organize, shore and
retrieve information. Both learners and teachers can capitalize on formal or informal learning across a wide range of
applications when these insights are shared and honored.
___ 15. I never stop teaching. Gifted teachers recognize that this is a 24/7 commitment. It’s about the quality
relationship that exists between teacher and learner. There is a famous saying in Israel that illustrates this point best:
“More than the calf wants to suck its mothers milk, the mother wants to impart the milk to the calf.”
Good Learning!
“DiSC”, “Personal Learning Insights Profile”, “Personal Listening Profile” and “Personal Profile System”
are registered trademarks of Inscape Publishing.
The Learning Connection, 1998.
Learn.Know.Share.Grow.