https://www.business-strategy-innovation.com
Like many teachers, I have taught hundreds of students over
the years. Given the small classes that define the institutions I am based at,
I have relatively intimate interaction with my students. Over the years, I have
observed certain traits that make some students stand out over the others.
These students may not necessarily be the top students but they do come close.
In some of them, you can see highly visible improvements when you chart their progress
from day one to the last day of class. They started the class as perceived dark
horses but ended up close to the front when the final grades are released.
What makes these students so different from the rest of the
cohort? My observation has shown that specific gender, educational and
financial backgrounds have no direct influence on their traits. These are a
special breed of students whom I feel every student has the potential to
emulate. These are traits that can be learned if one possesses the attitude to
follow through with it. The following traits are paradoxes – seemingly
contradictory but strong in harmony. Allow me to explain:
1) They listen
but ask questions
When I mean listen, I mean that they both hear what I have
to say in class (or instructions in my handouts) and can repeat to me exactly
what I said to them. After listening, they digest and then ask questions based
on the instructions I had provided. Such questions tend to be of high quality
and a reflection of a well thought through process. To me, this is true
intelligence. Interestingly, leadership guru and professor Warren Bennis is
quoted as saying that failure to listen is the most common reason why CEOs
fail. (http://iveybusinessjournal.com/departments/from-the-editor/in-conversation-warren-bennis#.U8FPifmSzT8)
2) They are
persistent but know when to let go
Some years back, I have an reliable source who related a
story of a group of military commandos from a certain Asian country who decided
to participate in the Langkawi Ironman triathlon competition. These hardened
soldiers were determined to complete the race in good time. However, the group
was divided into two camps – those who believed in pushing through regardless
of whatever their body was signalling to them; versus those who trained smart
and gave themselves self-imposed checkpoints along the route both slow down
into a lower gear and to measure their heart rate. Guess who posed the better
time? Worse still, the former group ended up crossing the finish line totally
exhausted and rather unglamorously.
Students can be very driven – and that is a great trait.
However, one must know when to step back and either re-group or let go so that
they can focus on more important issues. So you messed up on a project. Forget
about the grades lost and look towards the next one. Students who are not able
to let go end up bitter and hurt themselves and those around them.
3) They pay
attention to detail but focus on the big picture
Very few people pay attention to detail. In the real world,
this can cause the loss of profits or even life itself. And then there are
those who pay too much attention on the details that they miss the woods for
the trees. This takes some practice, but one must first pay attention to
detail. Once the details are acknowledged and digested, the student must pull
him or herself back and question whether the details make sense and where they
fit in the bigger scale of things. This is by no means easy and is a concerted
effort on the part of the individual. I have seen students do this, especially
in times of stress. Observing from the side, it can be quite a joy to watch
such leadership in action.
4) They are comfortable
being different but are team players
In a university, you get all kinds of students. But very few
are comfortable in their own skin. Many try to emulate others just because
others are doing it. For instance, Sally sees that Mary is heading towards the
library. Mary tells Sally that she is heading there to study. Sally feels
insecure and loudly declares that she is going there later to do the same. The
problem? Final exams have just ended last week!
And then there are those who are just rebels without a
cause, wanting to be different, just because. While it takes some courage to
overcome peer pressure, there are those who are able to do it in a way that is
neither offensive nor snobbish. In fact, these students are great motivators
and encouragers in their teams, helping the rest overcome their insecurities
but yet not succumbing to them.
5) Confident
but not complacent
I have come across many confident students. They are truly
confident and not putting on a show. But my observation shows that confidence
can many times lead to complacency. This is the reason why groups who do well
in assignments early in the semester usually do worse towards the end. The
converse is also quite true. Groups who are consistent throughout the semester
always check themselves and keep each other on their toes. They are high self-monitors
and regularly approach me to find out if they are on the right track – despite their
good performance earlier on. This shows humility, knowing that they cannot let
their guard down. If you find such students, treasure them – they are gems.
6) They take
risks but hedge against setbacks
Part of my grading allows for some liberty in taking risks.
Students are encouraged to think big and go big and success means rewards. But
they must watch their step lest they fail spectacularly. There are those who
recklessly take risks, ending up incurring my rebuke. “But you asked us to take
risks,” they refrain. In such a case, I suggest they duck before my flying shoe hits
their head.
The art to taking risk is to protect your downside as what
Sir Richard Branson advocates. Using the simple example of investing, you set
aside some money from your salary to invest in whatever instrument you desire.
But you protect your downside (which in
this case means losing all of your investment money) by first making sure
you pay off all debts; cover expenses; and budget for savings. This is when you
start making investments and you can do so without losing sleep should all of
your investment is lost in a worst case scenario.
As an educator, I wish the very best for my students and
hope they be more successful than me in life. Times are a changing though and
it is essential that students learn skills to adapt while they are in school
before they make it out there into what can be a very unforgiving world. If I
may, here’s a framework for those who are keen on creating a foundation to fulfil
all the above traits. I recommend the Boyd Loop, also known as the OODA Loop;
and Warren Bennis’ ALA Loop.
OODA – Observe, Orient, Decide, Act
ALA – Act, Learn, Adapt
Integrating them, we have the OODALA Loop:
Observe, Orient, Decide, Act, Learn,
Adapt
Here’s to the start of a great university journey!
No comments:
Post a Comment