THE POWER POSITION
“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.“ Brad Henry
Why am i referring to a teacher under the header of the power position? Think about it, consider what a teacher may do, we all have had them, the good ones, the bad ones, the mediocre ones, the boring ones, the ones with no pizzazz etc etc. But we always only remember our best and our worst. Because in our minds, there is a yardstick and its got only two points of measure. Not because we are cruel, or mean, or terrible students, but because no one remembers the average.
As a trainer, one must remind oneself that, trainer, coach, mentor, guide whichever word you may choose to describe yourself, at the end of the day, you are simply put - a teacher.
Your role is simple, yet complex, tough, engaging, and above all else, life changing. One cannot forget the reason you're in that position of power. You hold a weapon, to build or destroy. To nurture and grow or to quell with criticism.
So what's with the position of power, reflect back to your own childhood and remember who your favourite teacher was and why. You probably will not remember every word she/he spoke but you will remember how they made you feel. You will remember the little pats on the back and few words of encouragement. That, is the position of power.
The power to make a difference, a difference that lasts a lifetime. The power to control or decide a fate of a mental state. The power to help a person become better than they are. The power to help people find themselves. The power to make people believe in themselves. And above all else, the power to grow individuals.
There are trainers and teachers who distinguish between the "good" students and the "bad" ones. There are those who even selectively choose based on the gender. Then there is the caste which comes into play, colour, creed, sexual preferences, and trainers who divide people the way the country is divided, horizontally and vertically and then across. These are trainers in positions of power too. And thats a scary prospect.
Teachers need to understand their roles and take it seriously. Don't just teach; inspire, educate, enlighten and grow people.