A principal who read my book, Pressing the Right Buttons, wrote to me about a teacher who operates out of the “Powerful” style of influence:
“She expected all students to comply with ‘teacher giving commands’. Any non compliance was a direct and clear challenge to her authority. A year 8 student who was very bright and also operated out of the ‘Powerful’ style.
The student was getting into trouble for not completing work or doing the bare minimum if at all. He would shrug his shoulders if reprimanded and clown around when kept in to complete his work. Your book assisted me. I recognised that both parties were ‘Powerful’ personalities that you talk about. After some interesting discussions with the teacher, I presented some choices. She chose to run with my idea.
The student was given his own daily timetable. There were times pre-marked indicating compulsory attendance at the lesson/gathering, e.g. Drama/PE and some art lessons. There were some compulsory ‘one on one’ times with the teacher to review work completed, discuss any problems and set new tasks.
The learning outcomes were discussed with the student for the week in each of the key areas. He could choose to do the work provided by the teacher that assisted in achieving the outcomes or come up with his own activities that showed that he had mastered the concepts and was exploring them at an advanced level. He dictated when he would do them and in what order. After a day or so, the teacher struggled to keep up with his work output. He revelled in the chance to set his own timetable, take ownership for his learning and be treated as a bright, intelligent young student. He was a changed student.”
Understanding a person’s motivation can make life and learning easier, as this principal learned. To help you better understand people, I’ll look at the four primary personalities over the next four issues. Let’s start with the type the principal wrote about:
The Powerful Personality
Words that describe them: Adventurous, daring, brave, competitive, opinionated, decisive, focused, quick thinkers, outspoken,
restless, commanding, ambitious, goal-oriented
Strengths:Visionary – see the big picture, like to achieve, natural-born leader, productive, assertive.
Weaknesses (personally I don’t like to focus on this; however, weaknesses are ones strengths out of balance.): Their behaviour can be expressed as bossy, tyrannical, dictatorial, and impatient. These are strengths defaulted to weaknesses.
This is the original strong-willed student. He has short attention spans, because of his ability to grasp things quickly. These students are born to lead. If you don’t give them something appropriate to take control of, they will take charge of whatever comes their way– including you, the teacher. They are out to win and will stop at nothing to achieve their desired end. Powerful children do not give in easily.
Teaching Powerfuls: Expect to brace yourself for a power struggle from day one in the classroom. Control is the key word here. It follows the child to the grave. Whether it is through leadership or anger, the powerful must be in control. He is full of confidence and pride, and is often bossy and tactless. You have on your hands the greatest potential for future leadership – positive or negative.
The challenge is to stand toe-to-toe with this strong willed child and break the will, not the spirit. Keep this student busy and give responsibilities. She has a deep need to be productive. Being a good worker is no problem for Powerful types, as long as they feel appreciated. If they aren’t in control of something, they will take it out on friends at school. They can have poor peer relationships. They need to reason things out sensibly. They have astute quick minds and will rebel when you lack a logical explanation. He will want to know “why?” before doing what he is told. Respect this child’s innate need for fairness and justice, and be open and honest with him or he will catch you in your inconsistencies.
The Powerfuls greatest need is to be in control. A Powerful student will keep any teacher on his or her toes. With that need comes impatience-based anger when things are not going his way. Because the Powerful is thinking way ahead of his parents, teachers and friends, most often plotting for control, he will sense when you are most vulnerable and attack. It is important that a Powerful teacher provide healthy areas where the student can exercise control, while at the same time standing firm and immovable when that need for control supersedes the limits of balance for the student’s life and relationships.