In the first chapter of Winning With People, Maxwell discusses five principles to address if we are prepared for relationships. Those five principles are: The Lens Principle, The Mirror Principle, The Pain Principle, The Hammer Principle, and the Elevator Principle. Out of these five principles which would you describe as an area of strength or yours, and which is an area you would like to grow in. Please discuss why you selected each.
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ReplyDeleteOut of the five principles discussed so far in the book, I would identify my strength as The Lens Principle. When I look at myself, I believe I am an optimistic person with a generally positive attitude about life and others. Furthermore, when confronted by a hurtful individual or painful situation, I have a tendency to forgive and forget rather quickly. My life experiences with people have been relatively positive, so I have a tendency to be social, trusting of others, and open to establishing relationships. Therefore, I see my attitude as an asset. As regards an area of growth, I would name two. The first would be The Hammer Principal. I have a strong personality and have the tendency to not listen as much as I should. As the author Maxwell (2004) describes, he has a tendency to hammer people with answers before they have even finished asking questions. I do the same. However, recently I have been working on holding my tongue, listening instead, and questioning others about their thoughts and feelings. I also work to summarize what the individual has said and to make sure I fully understand, revealing at the same time that I am really listening. A second area where I will continually work for improvement is the Elevator Principle. I am a servant leader, so I strive to lift others up and to put them first. I must encourage others daily, offer kind words, and build positive relationships with all with whom I work (Maxwell, 2004). This I see as a continual area of growth and one that is fundamental in our profession as well.
ReplyDeleteReference
Maxwell, J. C. (2004). Winning with people: Discover the people principles that work for you every time. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
I enjoyed reading your perspective on the lens principle. I picked it as my area for improvement because I find that my trusting personality sometimes leads me in the wrong direction when building relationships. I appreciate looking at through your lens.
DeleteI believe my area of strength is the Elevator Principle. According to Maxwell, "you hold the power to make another person's life an better or worse by the things you do today," (page 53). I work hard everyday to think of positive ways to effect other people's life, especially in meetings with parents and students. I truly make attempts to listen carefully to what people are trying to say and encourage them in areas they are striving to achieve. This all goes back to my mother's principle about if you do not have something nice to say do not say anything at all. Conversations begun in positivity usually accomplish positive results.
ReplyDeleteMy weak area sometimes is the lens principle. I will often times find myself believing people when they say negative things about others and will sometimes let those opinions effect the relationships that I build. According to Maxwell, "if you don't like people , that is really a statement about you and the way you look at people" (page 13). Sometimes I allow others to effect the way I see others first. I need to learn to use my lifter attitude to build more relationships based in positivity.
Maxwell, J. C. (2004). Winning with people: Discover the people principles that work for you every time. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Just to clarify, this Blog is written by Julia Travis SHS AP.
DeleteI enjoyed reading your response, Julia. The Elevator Principle is an asset to have. Teaching is a difficult job, and teachers and staff members often need someone to build them up and give them strength. Additionally, parents often need someone to listen. Continue with your positivity as it will help you grow and develop as an administrator.
DeleteI would say that an area of strength for myself is found in the Elevator Principle. Maxwell describes the elevator principle as being “capable of becoming a person who lifts up others…You do have to care about people and initiate lifting activities” (Maxwell, 2004). Something I am very passionate about is developing positive school climate and culture, which best fits with the Elevator Principle. I believe that we first have to start building positive relationships with all of the people in our school building, adults and students alike. The Elevator Principle seeks “to be a positive influence in the lives of others” and asks us to acknowledge the small things that go a long way (Maxwell, 2004). I believe a strength of mine is finding creative ways to lift others and I work hard to find ways to bring positivity into the school building. An area where I can grow would be the Pain Principle. Because I do value and put forth my energy into setting a positive tone and maintaining a positive attitude, I sometimes fear the ‘tough’ conversations that have the potential to alter what others may think of me, specifically negative thoughts. Maxwell explains, “when you know that you’ve done nothing wrong, remember that it’s not what others say about you; it’s what you believe about yourself. You can apologize for their pain and feel compassion for their state, but you should try not to take it personally” (page 31). I know an area where I need to grow is simply not taking things personally because there will be many times where a tough conversation has to happen and that's part of being in an administrative role. I need to remember that working hard to build positive relationships can help when the time comes to have a tough conversation because of the established rapport.
ReplyDelete(Bentli Lewis)
I completely relate to everything you said above. I also struggle to have tough conversations for fear of it ruining the relationship. It is something to work towards having thicker skin and making sure people can separate work from personal relationships. I think it is possible to have those conversations especially if we work to be cognizant in building relationships with people first.
DeleteThe principle that I believe is my strength is the mirror principle. I have always said that I know my list of strengths that are a mile long and my list of weaknesses that may be even longer. It is important to me to recognize who we are as people and how we believe people perceive us. Some of it is genetics and how we were raised but being aware of ourselves helps in different situations. Maxwell says, "If you want to keep from becoming your own worst enemy, you have to look at yourself realistically." If we are honest in who we are we can take accountability and work towards improving ourselves through each step of growth we experience.
ReplyDeleteAn area of weakness for me can be using the Hammer principle. While I strive to be kind and uplifting most of the time sometimes I find that I may not handle every situation with the finesse it may need. The book says "The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment" (p. 38). There are times where saying nothing is what is best and I catch myself after the fact. What I have learned to do to overcome those moments is to always go back and apologize or explain my actions. Going back to the Mirror Principle, I have learned that people will respect honesty or an apology and it goes a long way. If we make a mistake we have to go back and make the situation right which is what I strive to do in my moments of weakness.
The principle that I believe best aligns with my strengths as an administrator is the Lens principle. Generally, I sit and listen and take in all that is happening around me before drawing a conclusion or making a decision. I have had the opportunity to work at various levels and within various circumstances of DD2, and I feel these have allowed me to experience the differences and likenesses of our population of students, parents, and staffs. I think I do well with using those experiences to see the perspective of who I'm working with in a particular moment and try to bring an awareness of the bigger picture to a more personalized conversation or instance.
ReplyDeleteThe principle I feel is an area of improvement for me would be the Hammer principle. Although I do sit back, absorb, and reflect on a situation or task, I know I have a strong personality which can be accompanied with a mentality of 'well, I sat back, listened, vetted, contemplated, and so on, so now this is how it should be'. I tend to feel that my two cents matter and that they will be heard when really, they don't always need to be voiced. I've made improvements in that area as I've grown as an administrator and began to shift my thinking towards a more muted mindset at times. Maxwell mentioned that those that use "the hammer" oftentimes do not realize they are using it. I know I've fit that notion before and have been lucky to work with individuals who brought this to my attention and helped me become more aware so that I could improve that aspect of my delivery.
This is Trey Hodges by the way.
DeleteThe principle that serves as an area of strength is the Mirror principle. It is essential for me to examine myself before I examine others. Taking a critical self-analysis allows me to see the perspective of others and first come to understand versus making judgments. This self-awareness fosters kindness in me that forces me to treat others as I want to be treated. The principle that serves as an area of weakness is the Pain principle. Because I am incredibly kind to others, at times, it is difficult for me to look beyond a situation. Instead, I try to understand why it occurred or how it could have been prevented. In the future, I want to utilize Maxwell's (2004) advice and move beyond the emotion of a situation.
ReplyDeleteTiffany, I could so relate to your post because I too, struggle with the pain principle. It is important to be understanding of a person's situation, yet move beyond the emotion and not excuse them of the behavior. I am working on this as well.
DeleteThis is Amanda Hodges.
DeleteOut of these five principles, I would describe the lens principle as an area of strength. This principle is an area of strength for me because when I develop an opinion about a person I do so through my own mostly optimistic lens. Maxwell (2004) reminds us, “All that you are and every experience you’ve had color how you see things” (p.7). Since my day-to-day interactions with people are generally pleasant and productive and my relationships with others are strong and long lasting, I have an optimistic lens and bring a positive view each time I develop a perception of someone new. Seeing the good in the people around me helps me appreciate them and recognize their natural strengths. Out of these five principles, I would like to grow in the hammer principle. I could improve my tone when I am working through situations with people. Slowing down and using the “velvet glove” approach is suitable in most situations, so I feel I would benefit from using it more.
ReplyDeleteOf the five principles described in Maxwell's Winning with People, my area of strength is the hammer principle. I am very balanced by nature and like to analyze my surroundings and really think about the scenario I'm dealing with prior to making any snap judgments. It is beneficial in all relationships and as a leader because it builds trust and certainty in my decision, which strengthens the relationship. This can also backfire at times, however, because I do tend analyze so much that I use my understanding of a person's background and behavior as an EXCUSE for his or her behavior. As a result, the pain principle is the area I need to grow in. According to Maxwell (2004) leaders tend to take the brunt of hurt people hurting others in the organization. I have been focusing lately on really trying to understand a situation and behavior without excusing it because ultimately, that just enables the behavior to continue. At the end of the day, it is crucial for leaders to be understanding and relatable, yet firm and consistent.
ReplyDeleteThis is Amanda Hodges.
DeleteThe area of strength that I identify most with in regards to Maxwell's Winning With People would have to be the lens principle. I have always been a positive person and truly try to find the best in others in all situations. Maxwell (2004) reminds us "Even more important than choosing our experiences is deciding what our attitudes will be about the experiences we have." (pg. 12) I am a firm believer in Hyman's seafood motto about attitude. You can't control much of what happens to you, but you can control your attitude and how you react to what happens to you.
ReplyDeleteAn area of improvement would have to be the pain principle. I feel empathy and compassion for those who are hurting but struggle at times not taking it personally. When someone finds fault in something I did or how I handled a certain situation I usually take it personally and think about what I could have done differently or how I can resolve the situation in the future. With time and practice I hope I can turn this weakness into a strength. If you are willing to learn, realizing your weaknesses can ultimately be one of your biggest strengths.
Eric Seitz
ARHS
I would agree that my strength is also the lens principle. Sometimes it can be hard to take a moment to reflect and think before acting in a situation, but it is crucial to make sure to use past experiences and gather as much information possible before making a decision. I also like what Maxwell said on pg. 12, "We can't undo our past experiences, but we can reprogram ourselves using new ones. This is also a good idea to apply as we grow as leaders because not all of our past experiences are positive, but we must learn and be willing to use them to become more open.
ReplyDeleteI believe my strength would be the lens principle. It is not easy to remain positive throughout the entire day, but I agree with Maxwell when he list the five things that determine who we are. I believe these five things help to shape the way we approach the day and how we deal with the situations that we face throughout the day. A few years ago, I would not have considered this a strength of mine, but a weakness. However, working through daily challenges and maintaining a positive attitude, I was able to grow in this area. I also like on pg. 12, "We can't undo our past experiences, but we can reprogram ourselves using new ones." This is a powerful thought and a great way to approach challenges that may come up during the day.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a weakness would be the elevator principle. I think that positive and uplifting messages, words, and actions for everyone should be communicated daily. However, I know that the hectic pace of the day and the focus to solve a problem and then move to the next, hasn't allowed me to truly take the time to lift up people who have helped in solving problems. While I continue to grow with the lens principle, I believe that I will continue to grow in the elevator principle and be more consistent and intentional with positive words and actions towards the people I work with.
Yes I agree the elevator principle is a weakness for you and you should work on it.
DeleteThe Lens Principle is one of my strengths. I tend to have a positive outlook on situations and people but stay grounded to be able to see through other people’s lens. My attitude helps me out the most with this one. I try very hard to come to work with a happy and positive attitude regardless of what is going on outside of work.
ReplyDeleteThe Hammer Principle is one of my weaknesses. I try to be a person who “acts” but sometimes I “react” to a situation. I find that by the time a situation arrives at my desk the teacher and/or student have become very heated. When people are heated, they tend to exaggerate on the true. In turn, I tend to make assumptions before I hear the other side of the story.