Telios Tutors adopt a holistic approach to tutoring, and personal development is something we value and prioritise incredibly highly.
As tutors, we have found that the more we continue to personally develop, the more we can be of service to our students, creating a “ripple effect”. One thing we look for in our tutors is their core values and beliefs; after all, it is our beliefs and values that ultimately govern our behaviour, and therefore our ability to be effective tutors.
Whilst exceptional academic records provide evidence of having substantial knowledge and the ability to perform well in examinations, being effective at tutoring and motivating students is something that is a craft that is not necessarily something that comes naturally. During the tutor selection process, we like to learn about our tutor’s character, and it is this that will determine how effective they are in their ability to commit and develop their students.
One of our favourite personal development books is one by Stephen Covey: “7 habits of highly effective people”. In this book, Covey outlines the 7 distinctive characteristics that are common amongst people who are highly successful and effective.
- Be proactive: Good tutors are always proactive; they are always innovative and looking for new ways to bring out the best in their students by understanding their needs.
- Begin With The End in Mind: Tutors that get students the best results are ones that have a clear vision of the end goal, and as a result, have a clear map of the journey required to get there. Excellent tutors are driven by achieving exceptional results.
- Put First Things First: Great tutors plan ahead of schedule and prioritise according to relevance and importance. They are well organised and stay ahead of schedule.
- Think Win-Win: Great tutors develop strong working relationships with the families they work with, and collaborate well in order to help achieve the best results for the student(s).
- Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: Great tutors are strong and effective communicators. They listen carefully to the parents’ and students’ needs and communicate efficiently and supportively.
- Synergize: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Great tutors cooperate well with parents, students and sometimes even other tutors. They connect well with other people, and believe that sharing ideas with other people and learning from others’ can create incredible success.
- Sharpen The Saw: Tutors are on a never ending learning process themselves, and understand that there are always ways to constantly develop as an effective tutor. The habit of renewal to maintain and increase effectiveness is something exceptional tutors passionately believe in.