My Management Lessons - from a 4th grader

Teaching the “7 Habits” to a 4th grader? Yep, you bet! It’s not only about the progression of knowledge, but rather the integration and formation of a belief system.

It’s not just your ordinary curriculum and not just an ordinary school. Instead of sitting down for a typical parent-teachers conference, we were led on a student driven evaluation. This evaluation consisted of several steps along the way including, knowledge of history, 4th grade mathematical problems (man try doing that all over again!) and a short story assessment. It wasn’t the student mind you, that was being evaluated! It was the parents being “educated” by the student on the specific topics they covered in the semester.

As interesting as this process was, it wasn’t the most important part or the reason for this article! One of the stops along the evaluation was the “7 Habits” stage. Each person was required to pick a “Habit” tab. The student asked a very simple question, “when was the last time you… (Insert a “Habit”)?”

The questions alone wouldn’t make for a compelling article. It’s not about the answers but more importantly it is about the thought process. How often do we empower our employees with the same lesson’s they teach in the 4th grade? How much of our staff is exposed to the “7 Habits”?

Here is a list of the “7 Habits” for you to ask the question. When was the last time you…?
o Habit 1: “Be proactive”
o Habit 2: “Begin with the End in Mind”
o Habit 3: “Put First Things First”
o Habit 4: “Think Win-Win”
o Habit 5: “Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood”
o Habit 6: “Synergize”
o Habit 7: “Sharpen the Saw”

Here’s what I learned today in 4th grade:
Truly successful people are capable of finding a balance between their family life and their professional life. Success is defined by how well the seeds left in the soil blossom through a challenge. Take time to mentor those in need of a leader. Value other people’s strengths’ and learn from them. Inspire those around you by caring enough about their success. You’re never too old to learn a new lesson!

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Comment by Joe Clementi on March 19, 2012 at 11:00am: Nancy! Thank you! I'm so excited that others found the article to be inspring as well. You make excellent points that would have made the article even more effective. Thank you for taking the time to read in and offer your feedback. Have an awesome day, week, month and year.

Comment by Marsh Buice on March 18, 2012 at 7:38pm: Great points Nancy! I've been thinking of this post all weekend... Residual post...(thanks for compliment ;) appreciate the support

Comment by NANCY SIMMONS on March 18, 2012 at 7:34pm: Joe, You know I am a fan! I have to agree with Marsh, (to whom I am also a raving fan)...This piece knocked it out of the park!!! We can truly learn more from our children about life's lessons, if we open our minds and our hearts to their keen sense of innocence, curiosity, and vulnerability! Vulnerability can be a wonderful thing in the automotive business, because so many walls have been built by egos, bad decisions based on bad experiences, and becoming products of our environment! I gotta go.... Going back to read it again to apply it to what I am doing right this minute!!! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Comment by Joe Clementi on March 15, 2012 at 1:43pm: Marsh, Thanks my brother! I appreciate the love! I appreciate your feedback and comments and I'm truly glad you liked the post. It means a lot coming from such an experienced writer and trainer.

Comment by Marsh Buice on March 15, 2012 at 1:37pm: Joe, one of your best posts brother!! What an inspirational post! I love these 7 habits and will share these with my team. Leadership is nurturing the seeds of those who follow us. The mark of a great leader is not what he or she can do, but instead the offspring we leave behind by developing others into leaders. It takes one spark to cause a forest fire-one leader can develop hundreds of other remarkable leaders-thus the chain reaction begins. Thanks for the inspirational post--you hit the nail on this one homie.

Comment by Joe Clementi on March 15, 2012 at 12:04pm: Ernie. Thank you! It was sincere and honest.

Comment by Ernie Kasprowicz on March 15, 2012 at 12:02pm: Outstanding! I liked what you "learned" and the simplicity of how you present it.