photo: Wavebreak Media Ltd
allie mooney
Not another staff meeting
Understand your colleagues to use your time wisely
T Teachers Matter
he frustration that can occur as a result of having a staff meeting can linger on for days, and maybe you wonder why it is always the same people that contribute to them. One bone of contention is when teachers have to work with others in syndicates, staff meetings and special projects. It’s also not uncommon for principals to have this same dilemma when working with their board.
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When I ask the question “How many work with people that are different?,” 90 percent put up their hand. These comments remind us how different we all are: “Can’t you see it?” “Do I have to listen to you, yet again?” “Surely you can bring something fresh to the table as well” “Oh, she is such a “yes” person!” “Why can’t they see the big picture?” “Why can’t you make a decision?” “We’ve heard this before, you sound like an old record!” “Oh my goodness, do we have to hear such a long drawn out
explanation of something that could be said in two minutes! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease!” “I’ll scream if you don’t say something!” “Show pony!” “Nit picker!” Could it have something to do with the way we think? I am absolutely convinced that it is. Personalities and the behaviour around personalities give us great insight into how we think and respond. The comments above can turn into toxic behaviour and attitudes toward others if we don’t understand personalities. Perhaps it might be good if we reflected on this topic. Let’s face it; we want our students to be more reflective around their learning don’t we? There are four main personalities that I’ve talked about before:
Playful – desire to have fun Words that describe them: love to talk, energetic, impulsive, naïve, loud, positive, inclusive, creative, enthusiastic. They avoid conflict. Powerful – desire to get things done (in the time frame of NOW!”) Words that describe them: love to do things, assertive, commanding, decisive, focussed visionary. “Straight up” when dealing with conflict. Precise – desire to do it right Words that describe them: loves facts and logic, deliberate, justice and fair play, orderly, well mannered, predictable and systematic. Indirect approach to conflict, would rather write to you about it than verbalise
