When we approach a situation, a person, an experience or even an event, do we approach it as a teacher or a student? Why do you use this approach?
Do we always try to teach someone and give them the position of the student? Or do we become the student and give them the opportunity to become the teacher and teach us about themselves?
I think as a default setting we can often approach something from an authoritative position (especially as a professional) and we may have already decided that we are the teacher. But recognising what role we choose from the beginning is crucial as the whole interaction will be completely different when we approach something as a student and not a teacher. This shows the other person we are there to learn, not correct. Let’s try to make learning our priority and become the student and not just critique and become the teacher.
Tell me a situation you have been in where you have been the student, then tell me about a situation you have been a teacher below.
