People out in the workforce have probably thought to themselves at one time or another who they have learned more from. Was it from their boss with all their micromanaging tactics or was it from their college professor and their slide show lectures? While the answer differs from person to person, I’d like to give my answer because I need to vent.
Personal Opinions
When learning about new topics, especially in the business world, it’s always important to have examples to help explain the subject. These examples are often about different products and companies and their successes and failures so that we can learn what to do or not do when we’re at a job. Yet, teachers, especially one I currently have, will not only talk about a company and its products but will give their personal opinions on it which lead to long antidotes about their life. To those teachers, I say, “I don’t give a damn!” Our parents pay a lot for us to learn about business, not about Professor Smugface McGee’s life. I have sat in classes not learning anything about business, but rather about a professor’s favorite car brand and how Jeff Bezos is bae. This will not prepare me for my job and only causes me more stress when I have to teach myself information for tests. On the other hand, my boss will give me concrete examples from experiences that have happened at the company. These examples can help give insight into how the company works and what’s the right way to get the job done.
Tests vs. Tasks
While tests might let the professor gauge how much you know, it’s not always accurate. Cheating and cramming the night before can give the illusion that you know the information when in reality you don’t. And even those who do study tend to forget what they learned because they only studied it to regurgitate the information onto the test and then forget about it right after. Likewise, when a professor decides to give at home online quizzes instead of actual in-class tests, students often find themselves cheating on these tests and not showing up to class. This is a dumb move on the teacher’s part, especially if they care about participation. But, when a boss assigns you to a task, you make sure it gets done on time and flawlessly. There’s no cheating or cramming your way out of this one because this can cost you your job. Doing these tasks can also efficiently teach an employee new and useful information. They will likely remember the information because it was hands on and they were able to complete the task on their own or with their team, instead of just getting the answers from someone else.
Motivation
Without motivation, we would have no reason to get out of bed. College kids never get out of bed. Coincidence? I think not! When classes are boring and seem pointless because the professor doesn’t take attendance, gives take-home tests, or is just super annoying, students will often find themselves ditching class because they don’t care enough. Some professors nowadays don’t always care about the students and just teach in order to finish their course requirements without actually garnering any interest. Others want to be “the cool teacher,” and just make it easy for the students to get an A. As much as I appreciate that now, I know it won’t help me because there is no motivation to learn and I might end up at a job clueless about something very important. That is why it is so important for bosses to always inspire and challenge their employees. The push to get the job done will not only teach you how to manage your time better but will motivate you to put your all into a project so that you can come into work every day feeling knowledgeable and pleased about all you’ve accomplished.
Take that, Professor Smugface McGee!
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