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 The One Minute Teacher
Lessons from Ken Blanchard's managerial wisdom from The One Minute Manager

In classrooms across South Africa, teachers are expected to lead, guide, motivate and manage - often all at once, and usually under pressure. While Ken Blanchard's The One Minute Manager was written with the business world in mind, its core principles offer valuable guidance for educators too. After all, a teacher is both a leader and a manager of young minds.

So how can Blanchard's ideas help teachers better manage their classrooms, support learners, and maintain their own sense of balance?

🔑 The Three Core Principles of the One Minute Manager

Blanchard and co-author Spencer Johnson outline three key techniques for effective leadership - and they're surprisingly simple.

1. One Minute Goals

Get clarity up front. Ensure everyone knows what the goal is and what a good outcome looks like - in just a minute.

2. One Minute Praisings

Catch people doing something right, and praise them immediately. Be specific and sincere. People who feel good about themselves, produce good results.

3. One Minute Reprimands

Address mistakes quickly and directly. Focus on the behaviour, not the person, and always end on a positive note.

🎓 How Teachers Can Apply These Principles in the South African Classroom

✅ One Minute Goals in Teaching

The premise of One Minute Goals is straightforward: clearly defined, concise goals lead to better performance. Instead of lengthy, ambiguous directives, Blanchard advocates for short, understandable goals that can be read and reviewed in a minute or less.

• Application in SA Schools:
  • For Learners: Imagine a Grade 4 teacher in a classroom, at the start of a new history topic. Instead of simply saying, "Learn about Nelson Mandela," she could set a One Minute Goal: "By the end of this week, you will be able to list three key achievements of Nelson Mandela and explain why they were important." This provides clear direction and a measurable outcome. For a matriculant struggling with a specific Maths concept, the teacher could collaboratively set a goal like: "By Friday, you will be able to correctly solve two quadratic equations using the quadratic formula."
  • For Teachers (and their managers): School management teams can also apply this. Instead of a vague instruction like "improve literacy," a principal might set a One Minute Goal for a foundation phase teacher: "By the end of Term 3, 80% of your Grade 2 learners will be able to read 30 words per minute." This focuses effort and allows for targeted support.

🌟 One Minute Praisings: Catch Them Doing Something Right!

This principle emphasises the power of immediate, specific, and heartfelt affirmation. The idea is to "catch people doing something right" and acknowledge it promptly. This boosts confidence, reinforces positive behaviour, and encourages its repetition, because people who feel good about themselves, produce good results.

• Application in SA Schools:
  • For Learners: Think about a Grade R teacher. Instead of a general "Good job!", when a child shares their crayons, she could offer a One Minute Praising: "Thandi, that was so kind of you to share your crayons with Sipho. It shows you're a caring friend, and that makes our classroom a happy place!" This specific praise highlights the desired behaviour. In a high school setting, a Life Sciences teacher might say to a student who has been consistently submitting neat work: "John, your diagrams in your last three practical reports have been exceptionally clear and well-labelled. That attention to detail really helps in understanding the concepts. Keep up the excellent work!"
  • For Colleagues: This extends beyond the classroom. A head of department could praise a new teacher for effectively managing a challenging class discussion, providing specific feedback on what they did well. This fosters a supportive and encouraging school culture, which is vital in our diverse educational landscape.

⚠ One Minute Reprimands: Addressing Behaviour, Not the Person

The One Minute Reprimand is designed to address undesirable behaviour quickly and effectively, without damaging self-esteem. Instead of scolding a learner in front of the class, take a moment to correct the behaviour in a calm and private way. It involves a clear, immediate correction of the behaviour, followed by a reaffirmation of the individual's worth.

• Application in SA Schools:
  • For Learners: Imagine a teacher observing a learner consistently disrupting the class. Instead of a lengthy lecture, the teacher could pull the learner aside: "Anne, when you talk while I'm explaining, it disrupts the entire class and makes it difficult for others to learn. That's not acceptable behaviour in our classroom. I know you're a bright student, and I believe you can choose to participate positively. Let's work together to make sure that doesn't happen again." This is brief, focuses on the behaviour, expresses disapproval, and then reinforces the learner's value.
  • Important Nuance for SA Context: It's crucial to apply this principle with cultural sensitivity. In some South African cultures, direct confrontation might be perceived differently. Teachers should adapt their approach to be respectful while still being clear about expectations and consequences. The key is to separate the behaviour from the person, maintaining respect and dignity.

💭 Why It Works

These strategies work because they are quick, respectful and human. They remind us that leadership - whether in a boardroom or a classroom - is about relationships. Teachers don't always have the luxury of long conversations, but one well-timed minute can be powerful.

📌 Final Thought

South African teachers wear many hats: counsellor, caregiver, motivator, and content expert. The beauty of The One Minute Manager is that it reminds us that impact doesn't require endless time - just the right moment, used wisely.

Please try it: set one-minute goals, offer a one-minute praising, and deliver a one-minute correction when needed. You may be surprised by the results - in your learners, and in yourself.