Want a Straight-A Team? Find Your Company’s Best Teachers


Take a moment to think about your favorite schoolteacher.
Why was he or she so successful as an educator? This teacher likely deepened your understanding of the subject area, but he or she probably made you want to learn more and improve your skills — and that is the power of a great teacher.
Although there are no classrooms in the business world, there are certainly teachers.
The next time you visit the office, consider all of the teaching that occurs. How many times have you spotted an experienced team member giving tips to a new staff person? How many times has someone shared with you a better method for selling a product, interacting with clients, or improving workplace communication?
Great teachers are all around you. The workplace’s best educators create self-sufficient team members, improve staff confidence, and develop a positive environment where future teachers can learn and grow.
So how can you identify and foster the best teachers at your business?
The best teachers on your team will have solid management skills and a strong understanding of your industry. This combination of skills serves as the foundation they need to create digestible, applicable explanations for other staff members.
Truly phenomenal teachers will also possess these five traits:
Once you identify your team’s teachers, provide them with opportunities to develop their talents within the company.
Consider scheduling professional development sessions that discuss learning styles, or encourage your team members to take applicable classes with tuition reimbursement. You can also build rewards for teamwork into your organization’s compensation plan.
Another great idea is to harness your teachers’ skills during the interview process. Great teachers are often great evaluators of talent, and they will have plenty to contribute when your company is searching for new members.
Once you hire new staff, ask your teachers to work closely with them during the onboarding proce. The wrong first impression can have a lasting effect on a new team member’s tenure, so it is important to show that your company is willing and able to help new staff members learn.
You do not need a classroom to be a teacher, just as you do not need a chalkboard and a ruler to be a great educator. In business, the desire to see your team succeed, the drive to make it happen, and the traits discussed above are more than sufficient.