“Give a pat on the shoulder, or shake someone’s hand,” he advises. “If you’re in a classroom, move around the room. Show that you’re accessible.” Finally, find people’s hooks—that is, what interests them.
So how do you know you’ve become a good teacher? “The ultimate goal of coaching is successful student performance—not awards or approbation. The measure of your success is defined by seeing your students months or even years later, doing right by a patient because of what you taught them to do,” says Dr. Wiese. “Focus on that goal, and everything else will fall into place.” TH
Jane Jerrard regularly writes “Career Development.”