Teaching Tips: Going from Good to Great

Helpful Hints to Teachers Who Want to go from Good to Great

What looks like resistance is often a lack of clarity. Change accelerates when people understand — in specific, behavioral terms — how to reach their goals.
a. Great teachers are comfortable with resistance and can pin point the difference between being obstinate and a lack of clarity.
b. When people get it, and they want it, great change can occur.
c. The best space in teaching is getting it.
d. Having the spirit of understanding promotes having the spirit.

“Understanding why others think the way they do is more rewarding than understanding why we disagree with them.” – Carl Ingalls
a. We already know what we think, in this there is no growth.
b. Listening promotes learning.
c. Learning what other think and giving them neutral space in which to express promotes trust.
Trust leads to teaching

“Success comes from constantly doing things that make you uncomfortable.” (This includes asking uncomfortable questions)” Dr. Joyce Knudsen.
a. Trying harder means you do the same thing over again. If you’re already doing it, you are probably comfortable with your action.
b. Rather than trying harder, try different.
c. Try something out of your comfort zone.
d. Most people know what they should or could do, but refrain because of fear and pain avoidance.

” I am not suggesting you follow what I say, but inviting you to think about the topic in a way that might be helpful.”
a. Assuming the Book of Mormon is true, what does that mean?
b. Assuming God the Father and Jesus Christ are two separate and perfected being in whose image we are literally created, what would that mean to you?
c. If Joseph Smith actually saw God and Jesus, what does that mean to you?

“If you want to do better than the crowd, don’t follow them.”
a. It’s easy to blend in.
b. Seth Godin said that people want you to fit in so they can ignore you.
c. Out-standing denotes a separation from the masses.

“Let your actions demonstrate who you are and what you stand for. Talking about it just creates doubt.”
a. If you want to become great, do it.
b. Do the things the others won’t do.
c. Dare to be different.
d. Anybody can work harder. Not many do.
e. Few work different and when they do, they typically succeed.

“If everyone likes you it’s because you don’t stand for anything.” – Simon Sinek
a. You can always judge who you are by your enemies.
b. If you have no enemies, you haven’t done anything to warrant them.
c. It’s good to have enemies. The greatest people in the world were best known by their enemies.

“The best way to impress people is to let go of the feeling you have to impress people.” Carl Ingalls
a. Building rapport is trying to impress people.
b. Trying to relate with people is trying to impress.
c. Seeking agreement means you think your idea is better than theirs. Very impressive indeed.
d. How is that working?

Published by

Richard Himmer

Author, PhD in Organizational Psychology.

One thought on “Teaching Tips: Going from Good to Great”

  1. Another thing to note on the last quote about not trying to impress people, is being around people becomes much more enjoyable that way. It’s exhausting and not much fun when you are constantly trying to impress others.

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