Managing vs controlling a class
- gemma763
- Feb 20, 2022
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 6, 2023
Phil Slade interviews Noah Cunningham, Student and Teacher Behavioural Support ROCKET program founder from Education Queensland, on the difference between managing and controlling student behaviour in the classroom.
I really liked the distinction between managing and controlling a class, especially the focus on trust, structure, and clear expectations instead of pressure. The same principle works far beyond education. When people feel respected and supported, they take more responsibility for their actions. I see this approach as highly relevant in modern workplaces too. In HR teams, shifting from control to smart management helps build engagement and accountability. This is one of the reasons why tools like HR Software are becoming so important — they support transparency, performance tracking, and communication without micromanagement. When systems empower people rather than restrict them, both teams and organizations grow more sustainably.