Later today, I will be meeting for the first time with each of the three classes I will be teaching during the Spring Semester. Two of the classes will be for upper-level undergraduates and one class will be for MBA students. While I will not cover much of the course subject (Operations and Supply Chain Management) material during these opening sessions, it likely will be one of the most important class meetings of the semester for each of these courses. The reason these sessions are so important is that they will help set the tone for the entire semester. In my more than thirty years of teaching in higher education, I have found that if I can properly utilize the initial class meeting, typically the students and I will all have a successful term. In today’s column, I will discuss what I try to accomplish in that session and how it might relate to what you can do in your business.
The first thing I try to accomplish on my first day of a new course is to provide a “big picture” view of the course for the students which will help motivate them to want to learn the course material. Each of the classes I teach are required courses for the students taking them, but very few, if any, have majors or concentrations in Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM). So, many of them see the course as a “necessary evil.” On the first night, I let them know how OSCM enables firms to compete effectively and how OSCM impacts their preferred discipline (e.g., Accounting, Marketing, Finance). I am trying to let the students know that while this subject matter may not be as important to them as it is to me, that I appreciate how what they learn in this class can effectively impact their career aspirations and success. By letting them know how this course fits in with their goals and how it fits in within a business as a whole, the students are more motivated to learn what is presented in the class.
Once I have provided them with the motivation to learn the course material, my next goal is to let the students know the class norms and expectations. Since this course is taught in a “hybrid” mode (i.e., half online, half face-to-face), I discuss how they are expected to work outside of the classroom to perform their best when we meet face-to-face. I inform them that I expect them to do the reading and assignments prior to class, to attend all face-to-face sessions and arrive on time, and to participate in classroom discussions. They are given assignments which require them to find “real-time examples” of what we are discussing in class and share them with the class. Students are told they are expected to follow the methodology of “prepare, attend, and participate” and that this methodology will make the class a more effective and enjoyable learning experience.
Because I require my courses to be extremely participatory, I also use the first-class meeting for the students and me to get to know each other better. I have found if the students get to know me and their fellow students better on the first night, they are more likely to be more comfortable speaking in class and it gives them a sense of community or belonging in the class. So, during the first class, I tell students about my background, not just professionally, but also about my family and things I like to do. I ask all students to introduce themselves, telling us about where they are from, what jobs they have or have had, and what their professional interests are. I also have a fun icebreaker, in which each of us tells of a time we have met a famous person, which I call “Brushes with Fame.” The students enjoy this, and if they do not have a “brush with fame,” they are encouraged to share something interesting about themselves. These introductions make it easier for students to communicate and provide feedback throughout the semester.
Basically, what I am doing on the first night is developing a “class culture” for each of my sections. Since we are only going to be together for about four months, it is important to establish this culture quickly in order to develop an environment that is both productive and enjoyable. While you would not necessarily do it in the same ways as I do it in my classes, it is important for you similarly develop culture in your company. As Peter Drucker said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” meaning that culture is more important to company success than strategy. So, here are some of the key areas you should focus on as you develop company culture:
- Define and communicate the principles and qualities that will motivate your team and guide their behavior.
- Identify the norms and expectations of the workplace.
- Connect your employees’ work to purpose…i.e., how do they contribute to the business’ success.
- Create a sense of belonging and community by making employees feel welcome and included.
- Develop an environment of mutual respect and open lines of communication between all levels of the business.
- Equally provide emphasis on both organizational (“team glory”) and individual success.
I am looking forward to my classes later today to develop a positive classroom culture that I believe will lead to a successful and enjoyable learning experience for my students. I hope you can similarly enhance the culture in your company.
