Credibility + Exposure = Adult Ed Teaching Written by Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
How can you gain credibility and exposure for you and your business, reach a motivated audience, develop a far-flung network, hone your presentation skills -- and get paid to do it? Many executives and entrepreneurs have found an answer: they teach classes in adult education programs. Adult education is big business. In new century, "change" is a hot topic and learning is no longer confined to traditional degree programs. As people want to grow their careers and enrich their lives, specialized programs have emerged to reach this market. Some teaching venues require at least a master's degree. Others allow you to share your unique skills, from designing brochures to tarot reading. Temple University's continuing education program has offered a half-day class taught by a cleaning lady. The subject? Speed cleaning. If a target market exists for your business or if you have knowledge that people can use on job, chances are a target market exists for you in world of adult education. By entering this world, you can demonstrate your skills to a receptive audience, meet some terrific people, learn more than you expected and even have some fun. Teaching requires more than a good speaking voice and a knowledge-filled brain. Every minute you are in classroom, you are marketing yourself to your students. You must keep students involved for up to eight hours. Since average adult attention span is about fifteen minutes, you have to design exercises, activities and questions. You have to deal with unexpected. Students will arrive late, ask off-the-wall questions and challenge your expertise. Occasionally, students will be rude, insulting or even abusive.
| | Creating A True Collaborative Environment By Honoring Your PeopleWritten by Carole Nicolaides
Creating A True Collaborative Environment By Honoring Your People by Carole Nicolaides © 2001 http://www.progressiveleadership.comWe all know benefits of creating a collaborative teamwork environment. Where we often fall though is in creating and sustaining such a united front. We often hire brightest people, inspire them to be very best that they can be and then we forget to do simple things that will encourage their participation and loyalty. If you are modeling a collaborative teamwork type of leadership you are definitely going to have a lot of followers. You will also truly make a difference in your world. You must honor your people constantly. You must show that you care for them. This means you, yourself, have to be in best position you can be. As we head into a new year, still reeling from shock of 2001, it’s time to bring our corporations back to days of local business. Everyone knew everyone else. Each manager cared about his/her employees and about their progress. I urge you, as a business leader, to rethink way you are showing your people how much you care and need them. You are one who can bring back love in game (yes, even with a negative economy). Consider these questions. What are you doing right now that makes people want to work for you? What are you doing that pushes them away? If you are unsure of either, ask two questions to your staff and request they submit their responses anonymously. These insights will open a new window of opportunity for you to improve yourself, and at same time, improve your team. Does it sound like honoring your people means practicing a soft leadership style? It doesn’t. There is a distinct difference in “honoring” your people and babysitting them. I am a very aggressive leader. I am honest in telling people I need to see XYZ results by a certain deadline. However, I then ask what they require of me in order to get their job done. Part of my role as a leader is to make sure that they have all resources to do their job. By making sure they have what they need, asking for their input and providing them freedom to do their best, I am honoring them as a valuable part of my team. In order for your collaborative team to prosper, there are certain things to keep in mind: 1.Tell them truth- No matter how much it hurts. We must be honest with our people if we want their full devotion. If you see that your company may be facing lay-offs, be honest. Whether it is legal or not, withholding information that about security of a person’s job is unethical. Be honest in all your communications and actions.
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