Productivity Is Personal: Why Treating People Like They Matter Makes All the Difference How Respect and Trust Fuel Success in Classrooms and Workplace
Teacher Diaries
Special Education Veteran | Host of Teacher Diaries | Reflecting on Education, Teaching, and Reform
Explore my take on why productivity is never one-size-fits-all. Full story on Medium: I once had a student who sat frozen, his pencil hovering above the paper.
"I can’t do this," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
This wasn’t laziness or defiance—it was paralysis. His home life was filled with constant yelling and pressure to be perfect, leaving him trapped in a cycle of fear and self-doubt.
As a teacher, I’d seen this pattern before. Neuroscience explains it: chronic stress doesn’t just cloud judgment—it rewires the brain. The hippocampus, responsible for learning and memory, shrinks under prolonged pressure, while the fear-driven amygdala grows overactive.
But here’s the hopeful part: with trust and care, the brain can heal.
The lesson is simple—whether in classrooms or workplaces, people thrive when they feel valued and wither when mistreated. Productivity isn’t about control; it’s about connection. Let’s explore the science and stories that make the case.
What Chronic Stress Does to the Brain
Chronic stress impacts more than emotions—it physically alters the brain. Studies show that long-term stress:
Yet, research also shows the brain’s incredible capacity for recovery under supportive conditions. When people feel safe and valued, their cognitive and emotional abilities rebound.
This mirrors my classroom experience. Students who were belittled or undervalued weren’t just unmotivated—they were unable to learn. But when I built trust and created a supportive environment, even the most disengaged learners began to thrive.
What Jane Elliott’s Experiment Taught Us
Jane Elliott’s A Class Divided experiment offers a striking lesson on the impact of mistreatment. By dividing her classroom by eye color and labeling one group “inferior,” she observed:
Her findings reveal a universal truth: mistreatment crushes potential. The same is true in workplaces—employees who feel undervalued show diminished creativity, efficiency, and engagement.
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The Workplace Paradox: Control vs. Care
Consider the pandemic-era workplace shift. For Amazon employee CJ Felli, working remotely offered a newfound sense of freedom. Free from the distractions of an open office, he:
Yet Amazon’s recent push to return employees to the office overlooks an essential truth: productivity is personal. Just as students flourish in environments tailored to their needs, employees thrive when given flexibility and autonomy.
The lesson for leaders is clear—forcing individuals into rigid molds often backfires.
What I’ve Learned as a Teacher
After years of teaching, one truth has become unshakable: you can’t force learning—or productivity. Both stem from connection, not control.
I’ve never lost a student because I overvalued them. Not once. But I’ve seen countless students shut down when they felt unseen, unappreciated, or misunderstood.
The same principle applies to workplaces. People don’t thrive under micromanagement or fear—they thrive when they feel trusted and respected.
Solutions for Classrooms and Workplaces
How can we foster environments where people feel valued and empowered? The key lies in equity—meeting people where they are, not where we assume they should be.
Here’s how to start:
Conclusion: Productivity Is Personal
Productivity doesn’t come from control—it comes from care. Neuroscience shows us that stress shrinks the brain, but trust and support help it heal.
In my years of teaching, I’ve never regretted valuing a student too much. And I believe this truth applies everywhere: when people feel valued, they rise.
What do you think? Are we doing enough to create environments that prioritize trust and individuality in classrooms and workplaces? Let’s start a conversation.