Individuals Seeking Professional Development

In a world of Sitters and Drillers, Rowers are often taught to avoid rocking the boat. That’s what Laura Rees, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at Oregon State University, has found as she works with business-minded hopefuls in her classes. Semester after semester, students have the potential to be amazing Rowers, but don’t step up to the task. “Sitters are often Rowers who know that sitting is the safest,” Laura shares. “They’ve been taught to play nice and avoid getting in trouble.” Of course, Laura knows that while Sitters might feel the safest in the moment, it’s almost impossible to effect long-lasting change and lead innovation from the middle of the pack.

Laura has utilized Paul Fayad and Positive Leader for nearly a decade as part of the curriculum she’s created to push students’ boundaries and teach them how to effect meaningful change—even if it’s uncomfortable at first.

While every year is different and the crop of students changes, Laura has continued to bring Paul in as a guest speaker again and again to work with her students. Whether it’s in a conference setting or a casual Q&A, Paul’s real-world experiences connect with learners hungry to see their education in action; spending time with an entrepreneur and sharing insights from real-life scenarios challenges students in a way that a textbook can’t.

The metaphor of the Rower, Sitter, and Driller℠ is especially effective for college students. Laura broke down exactly what makes it so unique and useful when helping students define their own goals:
It’s vivid and relatable. Almost everyone has seen or experienced the way a boat navigates through water. Rower, Sitter, Driller makes sense, even for students who don’t have real-world business experience. Within a few minutes, students know how they fit into the narrative.

It creates opportunities for dialogue. One of the things Laura loves about Positive Leader and Rower, Sitter, Driller is the opportunity for dialogue between her, Paul, and her students. It creates an interesting framework for discussing things like leadership and running a business, but also for deeper topics such as ethics and negotiation.

It applies inside and outside the classroom. The first experience students have with Rower, Sitter, Driller is undoubtedly in the classroom; they’ll likely start to apply it to group projects, finding their voices, and identifying with whom they want to work with. Eventually, they’ll take their experience along with them on their career path and use it as a powerful metaphor within their families and relationships.

“My job is to remind students of who they were when they thought they could make a difference,” Laura muses. She knows, however, that her message is even stronger when it’s reinforced by an outside perspective. As she utilizes Positive Leader as part of her curriculum, Laura challenges students’ assumptions about their roles and what they can achieve. As it turns out, what they might have thought of as “rocking the boat” might actually be steering the ship.