Challenge Me So I Can Improve

I was recently reading The Connector for Mar/Apr 2008, and an article by Julie Everett really caught my attention. The article “Leading With Reflection and Encouragement” was interesting in itself, but it was my follow-up thoughts that encouraged me to comment. Her ideas came from a Gallup study seminar she attended. The key elements she highlighted included the following:
1. This last year, I have had the opportunity at work to learn and grow
2. At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.
3. In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work.
4. There is someone at work who encourages my development.
5. In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress. (growth, development, goals, etc.)

When I thought about each of these statements I had some concerns…
1. The opportunities at work to learn and grow are the opportunities I have made for myself.
2. Sometime I feel like I am so busy doing the official paperwork for things that I don’t have te opportunity to do what I do best – and that is teach kids.
3. Praise for doing good work is not something that happens often, and when it does happen, people don’t know how to graciously accept that praise because we fear it might sound conceited to say “thank you, I worked really hard on that.”
4. The people who encourage my growth, my learning, and my development don’t really understand my job. My best friend at school really doesn’t understand my technology job, my husband doesn’t really understand the English teacher side of me, and my family doesn’t really understand why I find teaching interesting and stimulating because “they couldn’t pay them enough to teach kids every day.”
5. The only person who has talked to me about my progress at work is someone who can’t give me a raise, or promote me. I would love to be challenged by someone who could criticize me enough to make me want to work that much harder to improve myself and my profession. I probably question and criticize myself the most.

(If you would like to read more about Gallup study, please visit Dr. Gordon’s website: http://www.buildingengagedschools.com)