Who’s the Best Boss (or Teacher or Coach) You Ever Had?
Was it your fourth grade teacher? A high school tennis coach? A college professor? Your boss in your last job?
Whoever it was, think about them for just a moment. Take yourself back to some of the more memorable interactions you had with them.
When I think of the best teachers, coaches, bosses I’ve had, I remember several things:
First, they knew their stuff, whatever it was. They were experts in their field, and had a way of explaining things that were simple, direct and actionable.
Second, they got “me” — they understood my opportunities and challenges, those things that made me unique and different.
Third, they held me to a higher standard — my own. They saw in me great potential to do good work and give something of meaning back to my community. They never compared me to other employees or students or players — they asked me (in their own way) to live up to my own potential.
Your clients come to you looking for help, whether they are addressing a health issue of unknown origins, or a very specific health condition that’s been identified but won’t go away. Either way, they are — whether they will admit it or not — scared that this issue or condition will become permanent, a part of their life, part of their identity forever.
But when people find themselves in the presence of ‘greatness — the kind of greatness we have ALL experienced in the best bosses and teachers and coaches we’ve ever had — something miraculous happens. Because we believe in them (because they believe in us), we begin to believe in ourselves. And when we believe in ourselves, our healing not only begins, it accelerates.
Don’t you want to be the best health/healer/holistic practitioner your current and future clients ever had. That when I ask them “who’s the best boss/coach/teacher they ever had?” your name comes to mind?
By knowing specifically what that person did, you can model their approach, and begin to (or make more consistent) the belief they brought into your life and remains today. Honor their legacy by making it a part of your practice.
I invite you to start by paying a homage to the person you thought of when I asked the question at the beginning of the post: “Who’s the best boss or teacher or coach you ever had?” — and — share with us what they did (specifically) to make them the best.
By sharing your story about them, you not only honor their gift to you, you can start bring their methods into your practice AND help other practitioners learn what it takes to be the “best.”
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I’ve had a lot of great teachers/coaches in my life — not as many great bosses but I’ve had a few of them too.
One teacher whose name (embarrassingly enough I can’t remember) sticks in my mind as “one of the best.” He was a Lecturer at Cal State Hayward (now East Bay) who taught an applied math class to business students — I was getting my MBA at the time and needed a quant class to graduate.
I hated math. I don’t hate it now, because of this teacher. But before then? I really hated it. Went through my undergraduate program avoiding anything having to do with math. Squeaked by in high school. Got my brother to do it in grade school.
I really, really hated math — that cold clammy feeling I used to get when I KNEW I had absolutely no idea what the answer was, or even how to approach the problem.
Well, my Awesome Math Teacher changed all that. He made math fun. He found ways to explain complicated theory that made me want to learn more. I remember clearly being so upset with myself because I got an A- on the final — and I knew the answer to the question that I missed.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would EVER be angry at myself for getting an A- on a math test that involved derivatives and anti-derivatives.
The best thing about him? He made me feel un-stupid when it came to math. For years and years I thought there was something wrong with me — that I had some kind of intellectual fatal flaw that would dog me to the grave.
Not so. He showed me through his passion for the subject, his patience in explaining complex ideas, that me — Dumb Old Me — wasn’t so dumb after all.
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I had 2 stand out teachers as an undergrad in fashion – a long time ago, in a land far far away… Both recognized I had talent and a developing proficiency in the skill of, well taking the 2 dimensional drawing into the 3 dimensional garment. Both of them held me to a much higher standard than anyone had before and invited me to stretch myself and grow much bigger than I would have on my own. They also both drove me crazy – because I was good enough to do well, but they quietly insisted I do very well. I still keep in touch with them – 30 years later!
November 4th, 2009 at 10:56 am
I feel very blessed to have had many teachers in my life. As you have said these are ordinary people who in some way saw something in me that I didn’t see as a talent,a gift that perhaps if not pointed out that I was “good” at it, I might have just glossed it over, minimized it as most of us do when we are good at something. Those teachers who took the time to really get to know me and see my strengths and clearly share their knowledge and tools so I could further develop are forever in my heart.
I would say my neighbor,Florence Robin was the first teacher to have a major impact on my life. She’s the mother of a childhood friend of mine who welcomed me into her home and world of creativity. She is one of those people who loves life and does something each day to create a beautiful day. She was always able to find the positive in everything. She could look at the broken crepe in the pan and say how did this one know I was hungry or the vase she so carefully would be turning on the ceramic wheel came out looking more like a bowl and she would say, the dog does need a new water bowl.
She’s a gifted cook, potter, painter and much more who gave me the safe space to explore cooking and many mediums of art. She carefully watched where I would become frustrated and would say,”somethings we are better at than others. of all the things we do together which do you enjoy the most?” I remember saying cooking and from that day on we cooked all the time together. A love of cooking blossomed and has become very much a part of my life til this day.
I haven’t thought about her until reading your article. I guess what stands out to me in reflecting back on her impact on my life is that she allowed me to come up with the answer of what I loved and guided me to see my talent.
November 5th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
My first manager at Intel Corporation is always the person that stands out for me. He was a great coach and helped me to feel smart and empowered even though I was an inexperienced new college graduate. I admire those who have the skill to guide people and help them reach their own conclusions and decisions.
November 6th, 2009 at 7:46 am
When I thought about the teachers I have had, one jumped out in particular – he was my astronomy teacher, one of my final classes before I graduated from college. At the time, I was more interested in having fun than actually going to class and his class was at 4:30 everyday during the summer. I didn’t miss a single class. He was so interesting and fun I looked forward to every day. Learning was easy because it was so interesting and so much fun.
I had two other teachers who came to mind after my astronomy professor. These two had a very different style of teaching. The classes were very small. I loved and hated them at the same time. Both teachers held me accountable. They didn’t let me get away with my usual foolishness. I had to look at my fears and decide whether I would continue or not. Luckily, I chose to continue and learn the tremendous lessons they had for me. Both teachers were tough yet caring. They were protective at the same time they asked me for more and made me stretch my boundaries. I felt safe and challenged at the same time. I will never forget those classes either. I see both those teachers from time to time and am always glad to see them. One of these days I’ll tell them what a difference they made!
November 18th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I had a professor in College, Dr. Bruce Drake, who was an amazing teacher and support. I studied Chemical Engineering with him… he was very practical, hands on, and grounded. He was extremely supportive, and would often stay in the lab until 4am helping us on projects! And he was very real, I feel like he got me and always told the truth about life without sugar coating it. I appreciated his true honesty. He wasn’t afraid to be himself. He authentically wanted us to succeed. He was great!