Do you have a Guardian Professor that doesn't seem to click with you? Here are key elements for understanding Guardian professors.

Guardian (SJ) professors:

• Have specific rules and regulations that must be followed in their classes
• Want materials to be organized and turned in as directed. They often will allow no exceptions
• Expect students to take adequate notes filled with facts and figures
• Do not like challenges to their authority or knowledge

If you are a Guardian, you'll likely have a higher degree of understanding of this type of professor, but if you are a different type, you might experience a sense of frustration or conflict.

Rational students especially need to identify areas where they respect the professor's expertise. Unless there is some common area of respect, Rational students can often come across as arrogant and demeaning to their professor. This certainly does not contribute to getting good grades. They also need to translate class rules and regulations into larger principles that make sense to the student. Harry, a Rational, appreciated the expertise of his military history professor. He asked the prof a lot of questions, probing to see how far an idea could go. He was surprised when the professor approached him and asked him to quit questioning his knowledge. Harry had thought he was showing the highest respect and told the prof so. Harry learned to show respect the way the prof wanted, and the prof learned that Harry admired him.

Artisan students are the most likely to challenge the professor's rules and preferences - sometimes just for the fun of it or to provoke excitement. This seldom leads to any benefit for the student. The wise Artisan learns to suck it up and find the easiest and fastest way to comply. Rachel was forever running late. She was very sweet and charming and could wrap virtually every teacher around her little finger until she reached college. Her American literature professor told her he didn't accept late papers, and he meant it. Rachel got a C in the class and the more valuable understanding that sometimes deadlines are just that.

Idealists are the most likely to be the least precise and may, like the Artisans, not follow requirements carefully or follow directions precisely. Idealists like things to make sense to them. When they question the reason for doing certain things, the Guardian professor is likely to see the questioning as questioning their authority. Since Idealists like harmonious relationships, the questioning process is likely to damage this harmony. Vic knew he was in trouble in his freshman English class when the teacher announced that she would take off a letter grade for every misspelling and grammar mistake she found. He'd always felt that the ideas were more important than the delivery. Desperate, he turned to his Guardian brother to edit his papers. He earned a good grade in the class and realized that the delivery of a paper makes a huge difference in whether someone takes the content seriously.

For all types, when communicating with the professor, make sure to be brief, focused and to the point; don't make them think their time is being wasted. Find out the professor's rules; unknown rules can't be followed. Challenging the professor's rules is useless; follow directions first. Rules don't have to be liked to be obeyed.

Guardian professors want to be seen as a figure of authority. Remember, they do have power over the grades they give you. The best relationship to establish with them is friendly, respectful, and fair.