Are you a teacher or a motivator? I was approached the other day by a networking company in London that asked me to do a set of tutorials on social media and networking etc. It shocked me really as I don’t think of myself as a teacher;
- Teachers Teach – The old saying of those who can’t do, teach. In some cases I believe this to be true, but not in the case of website owners teaching others how to market their content properley.
In this business you can’t begin to show others how to do anything until you have proved you can do it yourself. Teachers have an air of authority about them. This authority commands the respect of the pupil and as such the student trusts and accepts what is being taught.
The point to note about a teacher role is that they tend to talk at a person rather than communicate. Teachers are rigid in their delivery and can be quite formal.
- Motivator – I think of myself as a motivator rather than a teacher. That doesn’t mean to say I am talking about things I can’t do myself, in fact it’s the opposite, I motivate readers by showing them I am doing it.
Motivators connect with readers in ways that teachers can not. You kick people’s asses into taking action by leading from the front. You practise what you preach and help everyone you possible can.
Motivators are in my opinion the best people to take advice from. Ultimately you will find your own way of doing things, but it’s motivators who give you that push.
Which type are you?
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: theblog_log
December 13, 2009 at 19:13
I know the story of your growth has motivated me, and your content is educating me to the point that I have had far more interaction with you and your website than any other…ever.
Thanks for everything.
Ray
Twitter: theinfopreneur
December 13, 2009 at 19:42
Hi Ray anytime, Glad I could help
Twitter: benlumley6
December 13, 2009 at 20:29
I see myself as being both.
In my day job I teach young people how to pass exams, how to study more effectively and how to be enterprising. I see myself as a teacher because I know for a fact the people I work with learn something from the time they have with me. I agree that some more traditional teachers tend to have a rigid and formal approach but from experience it’s only a small percentage these days as the tide is change it. I teach but I’m anything but formal and rigid in my delivery.
But I also hope that I motivate people at the same time. The key to a great motivator is someone who can tell people things they already know about or how to do them but at the same time get them to realise how important these things are.
I think James, that you’re both a teacher and a motivator even though you don’t realise. You educate and motivate at the same time but you’re just not stood at the front of the classroom in a shirt and tie.
But in answer to your question….erm I’m both!
Twitter: theinfopreneur
December 13, 2009 at 20:50
Top comment Ben, I suppose your right by being a good motivator you can also become a really good teacher.
Good advice as always Ben
I agree with Ben, on both counts, about you, James, and myself! God bless you both.
Twitter: professorbeej
December 15, 2009 at 00:47
I’ve always hated that phrase. But then again, I’m a teacher. I don’t see any reason why the classroom has to be a place for has-beens; it’s a place of ideas, and those who have already done have the experience to come up with those ideas and their applications.
But I digress.
I think you hit on a great concept, though. There is a big difference in a lecturer (do this, take note of this, etc. etc.) and a person who lets the students grasp the material and apply it to themselves. I don’t think there’s a difference in teachers and motivators, I think it’s a difference in teaching styles is all.
But then, that’s getting into semantics.
Either way, you’re right: the best approach is to make each student apply the lessons to him/herself and that’s when true learning occurs. Just because the student is in class, doesn’t mean he or she learns.
I think that effective education often actually involves adeptly switching hats from one role to another. Sometimes, you need to teach and other times you need to motivate. The essential element for being an effective educator (whether trainer or instructor) is to know when to be a teacher, when to be a motivator, and how to flow smoothly between the two.
Twitter: theinfopreneur
December 27, 2009 at 23:04
Hi Matt,
You’re right I didn’t actually realise how thin the line was until I wrote this post and read the comments!
theinfopreneur´s last blog ..You Can’t Make Money This Way
I help people open their minds and to question things. I think a teacher and motivator can do both. Whatever the person decides I am at the moment they hear me speak or read my post is what I am.
Society loves labels so much. We concerned with putting people into different categories….and that’s fine to some extent. But, just remember that we all are whatever we think we are, not what others think
Namaste
Reg
Reginald Sinevet´s last blog ..Create Your Own Path and Be Free
Twitter: Bigredtomato
January 3, 2010 at 01:52
I’ve read somewhere that the best teachers don’t answer your questions they help you think of great questions.
So by getting your readers to think, you’re both motivator and teacher. The important thing is to get your readers to take action.
Matthew Needham´s last blog ..2009 Year In Review
Twitter: dovefarm
February 25, 2010 at 12:55
Hi James, tend to echo Ben’s comments really – I would like to see myself as a blend of both. Not many teachers are ‘old school’ these days – though sometimes, in these dys of inter-active everything – it is reassuring and quite relaxing to have somebody tell you what to do occasionally!!!
The thing that comes through from your post is about communicating the message and using rapport to best effect, I guess.
PS – mis-spelling of properley in second para. should be *properly* – sorry about that – it’s the ex-teacher in me, getting out the red pen
Twitter: theinfopreneur
February 25, 2010 at 23:27
Hey Jane,
I’m surprised you only found one mis-spelling to be honest, what spell checker doesn’t catch I usually put a correctly spelt word in the wrong place, thanks for the spot
Twitter: dovefarm
February 26, 2010 at 09:06
did you notice my own spelling mistakes!!??? (just to test you of course)