I would like for you to think about a person that you really admire. Think about what they do and how they carry themselves. Here are some questions I would like for you to consider:
What is it about them that sticks out?
What makes them special in your eyes?
Now think about how they present themselves. What makes them outstanding?
I recommend that you take notice on how they behave and interact with other people. Now think about how you are viewed by those around you. How you interact, the way you dress, and how you speak will all be part of how you are perceived by others.
It has been scientifically found that it takes only seven seconds to make an impression, good or bad! That is right, as long as it has taken you to read that last line, is all it takes to implant an impression in the other person's mind about you. Now I am not suggesting that you should not be yourself but in the studio when your tribe arrives, it is like showtime! You need to be aware that people are looking at you, judging everything about you. How you handle yourself and those around you is extremely important.
Remember that it all starts the minute you enter the studio .
Many eyes are on you so I would like for you to consider:
How do you walk in to the studio?
Are you friendly?
Do you make eye contact with the people you pass?
Do you make a point of saying hi?
How are you dressed?
Looking to stand out in the crowd? Consider these questions.
In The Classroom:
Do your students think of you as a disciplinarian?
Do your students think you are an easy going individual?
Do they respect you?
When you mean business, do they listen carefully?
Do you complain to them about your life or work issues?
Do you let your students, even the problem ones, get under your skin?
Do you connect with them outside the studio on a personal level?
Do you know how to draw the line between teacher and friend?
With Your Employer:
Do you communicate with the studio owner effectively?
Do you like to please your boss and refrain from confrontation?
Are you honest with your employer in regards to your view of their school and how they can make it better?
Are you comfortable asking for a raise?
Do you present ideas that will improve your classes and the students experience in your class?
Do you like who you work for?
Some of these questions may even make you feel a bit uncomfortable and if they do that is good. Look, if you want to keep improving and developing yourself as a teacher, then you need to take a hard look at how you do things. Your answers may even surprise you. If you find that you do not like your answers or if you find that they may be part of your problem, the good news is that you can most definitely change what you do. Relationships are ever evolving and a new outlook by you will translate to others and that will be contagious.
When You Have The Right Mindset So Will Your Students!
As any teacher will testify it is ultimately all about the students. You will be judged on how much they have learned how well they have performed their dance and if their piece of choreography was entertaining. I always believe that students are a reflection of their teacher. If they don't look good, the teacher doesn't look good! Getting your students to learn and to look good starts with them having the right mind-set. That positive mind-set will help them exceed their goals! This may seem simple enough but is not easy when a class or student has a poor attitude. Your joy, love and energy can be contagious. We want all of our students to have a positive mind set when it comes to learning. Especially for example, when they are having an issue with a step or combination. Making them understand that by working hard on something to get it right, very often ends with a positive result and is therefore, worth the effort, is important.
Sometimes students don't really believe they can do certain things because they doubt that they have the capabilities. When you have a good student who starts to give you an attitude it is important to find out why. They are probably thinking that they know it all and of course, at that point, simply stop learning. We have found that by talking to them and trying to help them focus on why they started dancing in the first place we are very often able to reignite their desire to learn. A lot of the time trouble starts with these students because their parents are filling their heads with over inflated ideas. So it is a good idea to sit down and discuss what is happening with the student before the situation gets out of control. If you can instill in the students when they are young, that having the right mindset in their approach to their work is important for their success, then you have helped them tremendously in everything they do in life!
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