The Smart Kid in the Class

In a past life I worked as a teacher. Did you know that kids can teach you a lot about business?

In the days before the term “gifted children” was known, Ben was “the smart kid” in the class. As a young inexperienced teacher I thought I was enhancing his learning by “keeping the work up to him”. As soon as he finished, I gave him more work. When he finished that, I had more waiting. I gave him harder work than the other kids, thinking that I was “extending” him. His parents were happy, the principal was happy, and I thought I was doing a sterling job.

Gifted Children

In later years, as more became known about gifted children, multiple intelligences, personality types, learning styles etc., it dawned on me that I had seriously short changed Ben. He was such a great kid, I like to think he did okay in spite of my well intentioned but poorly executed approach.

I became an advocate for gifted children, developed regional writing programs and projects for gifted children, and spoke at conferences. Later, I became increasingly interested in “how people tick”. I qualified as an accredited Myers Briggs trainer, and started a small training and development business.

What I Learned

I guess, indirectly, working with Ben, was the catalyst for making me realise the importance of understanding the individual nature and needs of clients and others I work with. In Myers Briggs parlance, the lingo is “gifts differing”. Some people refer to “people types and tiger stripes”. In business terms, it’s about establishing rapport with the individual client, finding common ground, the client brief and two way communication.

While too late to help Ben, I also learned a lot along the way about fostering “people potential”, something which remains very important to me. Thanks Ben.

This post is part of the group writing project at Middle Zone Musings - What I Learned From the World of Work.

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