KNOWING MORE THAN YOU KNOW

"I am not a teacher, but an awakener."

Robert Frost, 20th century American poet.

Meaning, he only helps others learn what they already know, what they don't know they know.

We'd all be better off knowing at least one awakener.

DO YOU KNOW THIS?

"Ask the young. They know everything."

Joseph Joubert (1754-1824) French moralist.

Worse than knowing this is believing it to be true, no matter your age.

We all have much more to learn than we have to teach.

ENOUGH SAID

"Whatever you teach, be brief; what is quickly said the mind readily receives and faithfully retains, while everything superfluous runs over as from a full container. Who knows much says least."

Proverb

Management: Understand?

TEACH, DON'T TELL

"The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence."

Amos Bronson Alcott (1799-1888) American educator

Important in all forms of education, business included.

Managers (should also) be teachers.

The best ones temper their own personal beliefs, providing their direct reports the best possible information so they can reach the best possible decisions.

I HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH YOU

"There is no delight in owning anything unshared."

Seneca

1st century BC Roman philosopher/playwright

Yes there is for those things meaningful only to you.

However, in most cases, for most things, sharing, which takes many forms, will bring you greater reward.

And nowhere is this more true than when it comes to sharing your knowledge.

You Wanna Know Something?

"He who knows little, quickly tells it."

Italian proverb

Having knowledge you don't use is of no value.

And only telling others what you know is not, by itself, action that will lead to positive results.

The Teaching Manager

"Who can direct when all pretend to know?"

Oliver Goldsmith

18th century Irish writer/poet

Why would employees "pretend to know"?

They might if management expected them to know even when that expectation is unreasonable.

Discover what needs to be learned and then teach it.

Knowing Who Does, Versus Who Doesn't

"Never offer to teach a fish to swim."

Proverb

Absolutely!

But when it comes to business how do we know who is and is not a fish?

You Can Do It!

"My chief want in life is someone who will make me do what I can."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Many of us have had the experience of a parent who convinces us we can ride our first bike without training wheels or them holding us up.

We wanted to, weren't sure we could, but they pushed us to succeed.

The more fortunate among us have such encouragement throughout our lives because there is no end to the "bikes" we need to "ride" for the first time.

Inspirational Management: True Leadership

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."

William Arthur Ward
Author

Based on the reaction to previous quotes it appears we have consensus about the importance of team building and the closely related need for managers to help others succeed.

In other words managers are teachers. If so shouldn't the companies they work for look for many of the same qualities in their managers that educational institutions attempt to find in the teacher they hire?

As a minimum teachers must teach, managers manage but if they are to also inspire, how do we find those who stand above the rest?