No. 597, October 20, 2008

Leadership in the classroom

Keeping the positive atmosphere

As a teacher or educator you are a leader. Your task is to lead your group to a goal. In the best of worlds your teaching room will be filled with individuals hungry to learn and who have chosen your lesson because they really want to be there.

However, real life is often different. Millions of people are sitting in teaching rooms around the globe everyday not having chosen to be there. They would rather be doing something else – whether we are talking about a school or a corporate training course. Some come voluntarily to a course, others accept coercion with little resistance and a few revolt in more or less open ways.

This makes leadership in the classroom a delicate matter. How does one lead a group to the best possible result for all? Those who want to learn must be able to do so. The half-spirited and semi-detached might in best case be inspired, and those who do not want to be there must at least not disturb those who want to learn.

The ground work is to create rapport and clarify expectations. Next stop is to make sure that constructive talks about the subject matter dominates the teaching room.

Here are some suggestions:

• Encourage all constructive questions and suggestions. Be polite, and short, with meaningless criticism and pure negativity. That can be discussed in the break – you have a timetable to keep.
  
  
• Make a habit of phrasing questions in a way that appeal to the most motivated and creative people. For example, when a group is to present their work, it is better to ask: "Who wants to start?" rather than "How did it work out?" The first question inspires the most creative people and silences the negative. The second question may in worst case create a long discussion and no presented work from anyone.
  
  
• Do not accept negative personal criticism in the teaching room. Defend the respect for every individual so everyone feels safe. An effective way to accomplish this is to establish good rules at the start.

Creative regards! Jonas Himmelstrand

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