We All TEACH Business Skills

As a business & computer science teacher, I can't help but make the comparison that all teachers incorporate some business job or discipline into their teaching and classrooms. Our students will all hopefully graduate and have to work in some sort of business setting. Whether they are flipping burgers, selling tractors, managing a Target, saving lives, or working on Wall Street, they are going to take the skills we TEACH them and use them to hopefully better our society. Their are 5 business skills/jobs that I see teachers teaching, demonstrating and modeling for students daily:

1. Salesperson: As teachers, we are continually selling the value of our classes, why our content is important to know, and how it will help students when they are in the "real word." Sometimes I think we as teachers are more actors/actresses than anything else because we put on a show daily for our students. If the show isn't good, students won't buy our product.
 
2. Manager/Leader: Teachers not only manage how students learn but they plan, organize, direct, and motivate. Every successful manager needs to master these skills if they wish to be successful. Teaching is no different. If you can't manage your classroom, plan effectively, direct instruction, and execute a strategy efficiently, you can't be a great teacher. Managing a class is only one aspect though. Teachers are also leaders whether they view themselves as one or not. Leaders inspire others, they let people know they can be more than they ever thought they could, and they are willing to give away all the credit if it means helping the organization or someone else.
 
3. Entrepreneur: It doesn't matter what grade or subject you teach, you should be fostering entrepreneurship in your students daily! Do you allow them to explore, experiment, try new things and fail. Or do you come in and give it all to them? If we want our students to be truly great people when they leave our schools, we need to be incorporating teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving skills, analysis, and synthesis into our daily lessons. Make them dream big, tell them what is out there that can be theirs, and be the innovator your
 
4. Human Resources: Probably one of the most challenging aspects of teaching is trying to understanding every child, being their for him or her when they need you, listening, appreciating their thoughts and ideas, and giving them guidance and support when they don't think they need or want it. As teachers, we are the people students go to when they need advice. They trust in us to guide them in the right direction. Our focus in education should be children first and in human resources, they know that the most valuable commodity to a business is the people. So is true with a school district and its students!
 
5. Technology Facilitator: Many students who come to a K-12 school in today's society believe that they have to shut down from technology in school...why? If we as educators don't incorporate what the students live on when they are outside of our classroom, we will lose our clients. Everyday we should be using technology of some sort in the classroom. Technology should never completely drive instruction but it should be utilized as a "powerful" tool in which students can engage, collaborate, and access information like they never have before. Teachers, I challenge you everyday to learn about a new tool, use a new software, and ask questions. Failing is OK as long as you are pushing yourself to learn new tricks. Use technology or else they will!

If you have any other business skills you believe teachers teach students, please share in the comment section. Thanks!

-RD