I found this article recently. Many supervisors and people in upper-level positions should follow this supervisor’s example and go back into a classroom for a day or even for a week to be reminded of what it is like to work hands-on in a field, any field.
Many people work their way through the educational process and earn the highest degrees they can earn, then land a ‘desk job’ in a supervisory position. They often forget what it is like to work in the classrooms. Cultures and generational characteristics change so quickly, too, that these supervisors get out of touch with the current hands-on issues. They can read books all day long, but they will never know exactly what they need to know until they spend a day in the ‘real’ world.
The idea of supervisors spending a week or a day doing the jobs of the people with whom they supervise can be applied to people in any field or position: from classroom education teachers to denominational ministry leaders. Supervisors and denominational leaders will never know how to lead their employees or the local church leaders until they spend time working in their positions on a continuous basis. It doesn’t work if they are former classroom teachers or former church leaders. Cultures and generations change too quickly. They must be continuously involved in the hands-on daily routines of the field.
So, come on, principals, superintendents, denominational presidents, and whoever else is leading a group of people in any field. Get out there in the real world. Get out from behind the desks. Get your hands dirty.
