Facts Tell But Emotions Sell

Good Morning and Happy Hallows’ Eve Eve Friday!

Congrats to our Graham Steers!  Good win versus Hirschi last night! 

Our Lady Blues volleyball team has had an outstanding season improving from 11 wins in 2014 to 27 wins in 2015.  The team will face Windthorst in a warm up game this Friday evening at 4:30 p.m. in the GHS gym. The Lady Blues will take on Burkburnett in the first round of the playoffs this coming Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Windthorst.

Summary of Board Workshop- This past Wednesday evening the board held a Budget/Facility Workshop.  Discussion items included:

• Projects completed using funds from the district fund balance.
• A five-year projection of the fund that will be available via the district fund balance.
• Building an Ag Project Center using funds from the district fund balance and in partnership with the City of Graham and the Graham Industrial Association.
• Renovations to the home side of Newton Stadium to provide improved accessibility, safety and space.

Facts Tell But Emotion Sells

As an educator are you a sales person, an orator, a dictator?  I fully understand that a good portion of my position requires salesman like skills. Although necessary at very selective times, standing on high and providing edicts and threats does not usually yield high performance and commitment to the mission.

Imagine for a moment if Patrick Henry, hero in the American Revolution, had stood before his fellow countrymen in the local tavern and gave stats regarding the numerous taxes that had been imposed on the colonies by the British Parliament. The data would have been delivered but I don’t believe the data alone would have stirred the soon to be patriots into action.

Nor can I imagine a rousing response if Martin Luther King, Jr. had said, “I have a hunch.”   King described a dream… a value!  He made it real by using his word to paint a picture that people could see with their own eyes.  He created a mission that others were willing to commit to accomplishing. People (students) are drawn to others and/or organizations of purpose rather than policy. 

I have heard it said that good sales people do a lot of teaching and good teachers do a lot of selling. Both professionals only succeed if their customers or students do.

An educator’s success is measured in student learning. We can’t get to learning if students are not willing or ready to be taught.  Churchill said, “Personally, I’m always ready to learn, although I do not always like to be taught.”  Skilled educators know their success hinges on getting students to tune in to WIFM (What’s In It For Me?).  Without this emotional connection it is difficult to get students to the point of being willfully committed to the processes and techniques they are being offered to learn.

Now is the time to consider: How can you make stronger connections with our students? What emotions do you want to evoke? What can you do differently to provide the kind of learning experiences that doesn’t just deliver a lesson, but inspires trust and motivates authentic engagement?

The future belongs to those who make emotional connections with others!

Corny Jokes of the Day: (Scroll down for the answers)

1.         What did the bird say on Halloween?

2.         What is Mummie’s favorite type of music?

3.         What is a Vampire’s least favorite song?

Answers

1. Trick or tweet!
2. Wrap!
3. Another one bites the dust!