I wanted to share this illustration used in the chapter about the importance of the right attitude for leaders. I have often witnessed and experienced first hand how one’s attitude toward another can either be a great help or an extreme hurt to someone. Understanding how important having the correct outlook toward people is, will help you to better understand others needs and how to effectively, and lovingly lead them.
The illustration speaks of a double blind study that was conducted in a San Francisco Bay area school district. The principal of a school selected the three most qualified and experienced teachers in the area, and paired them with 90 of the brightest students chosen from within the school district.
The study was conducted over the course of a year, and both professors and students alike thoroughly enjoyed themselves. By the end of the experiment the students that participated in the study increased test scores by 20 and 30 percent over all other schools within the district.
Later, the principal called for the professors in order to share the results of the experiment. When the teachers heard the news, they were very excited about the results as it showed that they were in fact the best teachers in the area. The principal then made a revelation. He stated that the three teachers were selected at random, just as the students too were selected. In fact, there had not been any special selection to the study at all!
So, what made the students test scores increase so drastically? The reason for increase was the attitude the teachers had toward the students that they were teaching! Simply due to the fact that the professors expectations, and attitude toward the students was held in high regard, they were able to be more effective at delivering the curriculum in a highly motivational and understanding way.
What does this say to us about the importance of having the right attitude toward those we lead? Just as Dr. Lee Roberson so simplistically put it, “everything rises and falls on leadership!” Both failures and successes can be directly contributed to a leader’s attitude toward his followers. Decide today that you will see people not for who they are, but rather who they can become.
Stephen Underwood
Acts 20:24
www.stephenunderwood.net
Loving God
Others First
Vision for the World
Enjoying Life
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