As a dance teacher, the most important thing you need to receive from your students is respect. Without it they will not listen as well, take your corrections as well and follow your lead as well. Good leadership is the key to setting the tone. How you present yourself can make or break you when it comes to respect. Trying to be their best friend will not make this happen.
Think of all the dance teachers you have had through your life. Which ones made a difference to you? What qualities did they possess? I would bet that they were good leaders and you had a lot of respect for them. So how can you do the same with your students?
Some people believe that great leaders are made, not born. Yes, it may be true that some people are born with natural talents. However, without practice, without drive, without enthusiasm, and without experience, there can be no true development in leadership.
You must also remember that good leaders are continually working and studying to improve their natural skills. This takes a commitment to constantly improve in everything you do.
To be a leader, you must be able to influence others to accomplish a goal, or an objective. A leader will contribute to the cohesion of a group. Contrary to what most people believe, leadership is not about power. It is not about harassing people or driving them using fear. It is about encouraging others towards a goal. Good dance teachers must be good leaders!
People follow others when they see a clear sense of purpose. People will only follow you if they see what’s in it for them. Remember that people don’t care about how much you know, until they know how much you care!
Being a leader is not about what you make others do. It's about who you are, what you know, and what you do. Chances are you are a reflection of what your students are. Studies have shown that the qualities of good leadership are based on the trust and confidence people have in you. If they trust you they will go through walls for you.
Trust and confidence is built on good relationships, trustworthiness, and high ethics. The way you deal with your students, parents and your employer, and the relationships you build will lay the foundation for the strength of your leadership. The stronger your relationship, the stronger their trust and confidence is in your capabilities.
Once you have their trust and confidence, you may now proceed to pave the way to build respect and to communicate the goals and objectives you may want to undertake. Communication is a very important key to good leadership and to being a great dance teacher. Without this you cannot be a good leader or dance teacher. The knowledge and technical expertise you have must be clearly spelled out to other people. Also, you cannot be a good leader unless you have good judgment. You must be able to assess situations, weigh the pros and cons of any decision, and actively seek out a solution. It is this judgment that your students will come to rely upon.
Remember, being a leader takes a good deal of work and time. It is not learned overnight. Remember also, that it is not about just you. It is about you and the people around you. If you do not have a good relationship with your employer it is time to sit down with them and figure out why not. As a dance teacher, never and I mean never discuss with your students any issues or disagreements you are having with your employer. If you cannot come to some type of common ground with them then it may be in the best interest of all to move on.
The key to getting your students to follow you is to get them to want to follow you! You can do this by showing them that you respect yourself enough to only expect first class treatment. You will need to let them know that you also respect others and this will create an atmosphere of true leadership. Remember most students want to be lead. Don’t sell yourself short. You are a leader, and each day that passes, you can work to being a great one!
