How to tell when you’ve lost control.

Once a teacher losses control, or takes control away from someone who needs that control to direct a team - they have pretty much shot themselves in the foot. Once you lose control - it is so hard to gain it back again, if at all.

If you can relate to the items below - It's time to quit. Do it for the sake of the students.

1. The team tells you – not you tell them. They control you.
2. You degrade your top officer(s)- you do in front of others. You demoralize people. You don't negotiate.
3. Your child who dances on the team controls your mood
4. Your right hand helper isn’t trained
5. You look for a way to “get back” at a student and/or their parent.
6. You’re looking for another way to make a dime
7. You change everything to fit your style. Doesn't matter how much time someone has dedicated to the work. You change it. Days worth of work - you change it, or cut all of it.
8. The team belongs to “you”
9. You play favorites and make good dancers sit out or give them lower jobs to do. You do it because you don't like them.
10. How many “I’s” do you have in your team?
11. You neglect to discipline your team
12. You’re a bench sitter - you allow a booster club to do your job for you.
13. You really don't have a clue. You're just angry. You think the whole world is out to get you - so you're gonna get them first.
14. Parents think you are a flake who can't direct
15. You make up lies about other people (children and parents)or situation that didn't happen to prove an unproven point – and then repeat those lies you made up to your students
16. You have an excuse for everything – but don’t take credit for anything that goes wrong
17. It’s a swinging door and your butt is caught between it
18. The parents no longer support you. The community no longer supports you either. You're getting a rep as someone that can't be trusted with other peoples children.
19. You try to steal away a dancers dream so you can play “I’m in control” or as a "vendetta"

20.The principle of the school where you direct is watching you


This list makes you really appreciate those good coaches who care, and support the team, those who are professional and control their own emotions. When you get a good coach, don't take them for granted - tell them. Tell them how awesome they are. Good coaches aren't perfect, they are just people. But if you have one who is good - make sure they know it.

TEAM_MOM