Introduction

	We All Need The Same Training
	Leadership vs. Management
	What Is Leadership?
	Human Wants
	Four Competencies Needed
	Three Kinds Of Leaders
	Primary Needs
	Secondary Needs

The Primary Needs

The seven primary needs are physiological, unlearned, and within us all. The vast majority of the problems people experience in life pertain to a primary need. Many leaders have numerous problems with those being led due to their failure to see that some people are hurting because at least one of these needs is not being met—or that one or more of these needs is getting in the way of everything else at the moment.

This is extremely important to us as teachers and administrators because these primary needs almost always have to be met before interest and motivation in the secondary needs become dominant. For instance, if we are hungry or urgently need to go to the restroom, little else is on our minds. Yet, it's through the secondary needs that we turn people on to work, achievement, and satisfaction in the classroom, school, or district.

Miss The Need And You'll Miss The Target

It's easy to see why ignoring these needs or not even seeing them in those being led can cause us to miss the target when we're trying to lead people. If we don't understand these needs, we may not be able to respond professionally to what those being led do or say. Rather, we may take every act of resistance personally—and react personally in ways that lessen our chances of being effective. It's also easy to see why those being led may think that we don't really know who they are, that we don't care about them, or that we are only using them if we are oblivious to these needs. Failure to recognize a primary need void in a student or staff member causes a wide range of human emotions and responses—and none of them are usually good. Certainly, being oblivious to a primary need can cause resentment. Hopefully, we can see that if anyone—student and educator alike—comes to school with a primary need void, he or she will have problems that make learning or helping others more difficult.

For instance, if a teacher comes to school distracted by the countless problems that can exist at home, working hard to help students be successful can rank low on his or her list of priorities. Problems at home are distracting for students as well. In fact, holding high expectations for students with primary need voids can foster strong and negative resentments. The lack of fulfillment of a primary need can cause hate for a teacher, an administrator, academic work, or the work of the school. It can cause jealousy and bitterness toward happy and successful students and colleagues who are perceived to be more fortunate than we are. Remember, primary need fulfillment comes first for all of us.

Problems Are Inevitable When Needs Aren't Met

Indeed, an unfulfilled primary need can breed antisocial and unprofessional attitudes and behaviors. Then, having a leader who seems oblivious to this personal void and is urging some staff members to "study harder," "meet the needs of the students," or "accomplish the work of the school" can produce a wide variety of hostile feelings. It's not difficult to see why.

For instance, a teacher who is having a marital problem at home may bring that burden to school. Or a student who is being abused at home may do the same. Sometimes we forget the strength of these primary needs when we're trying to relate to and motivate those we lead. We might even believe the primary needs of those being led aren't our problem. They are. We may think there is nothing we can do about such voids, but there are many things we can do. In the beginning, we can care. We can be empathic. We can give comfort, extend friendship, and see what we can do. We may be able to give direct help—or give help simply by demonstrating an awareness of and an interest in their situation.

Whenever we experience any kind of problem when we're leading, we must first look for a primary need void. In the process, we need to remember that we all need a leader who knows us, understands us, is concerned about our welfare, and is willing to help us. We all need a leader who cares enough to treat us as a person and tries to help us meet our needs. Remember, until the primary needs are met, nothing else may matter to the person we're trying to lead.

Why are some students always angry? Why is a colleague hostile toward students? Why is an administrator always unavailable? More often than not, we need to look no further than a primary need. Indeed, many of the student discipline problems we have in schools are the result of primary needs. There are seven primary needs. Remember, they are physiological and unlearned. They are:

• Hunger
• Thirst
• Sex/Sexuality
• Air
• Rest
• Escape From Pain
• Eliminate Waste