You're three weeks out from comp. Your dancers know the choreography. They've drilled the combos. They've run the routine a hundred times.

But you can see it in their eyes: they're NOT ready. Not because they don't know the steps. But because their confidence is shot.

Here's the question that changes everything:
"What's the first thing you're thinking about right now?"

Ask your dancers this before they walk on stage. Not "are you nervous?" Not "are you ready?" Just: "What's the first thing you're thinking about?"

Because what they say will tell you exactly where their head is. And once you know that, you can redirect it. If they say "I'm going to mess up," you can reframe it: "What if you focus on one thing you know you'll nail?"

If they say "Everyone's going to judge me," you can shift it: "What if you focus on one person in the audience who's rooting for you?"

One question. Immediate insight. Instant redirect.
Try it this week, and hit reply with your insights?

John Maxwell teaches something called "The Law of the Lid" in leadership. I learned this in person in Orlando in 2016 and it stuck with me. It’s actually based on fleas… (reply if you want the full flea story)

Here's the idea: Your leadership ability is the lid on your team's potential. If your leadership is at a 6 out of 10, your team's effectiveness maxes out around a 5.

And here's where it gets uncomfortable: If you don't know how to build confidence in your dancers, that becomes the lid on their performance. They can have all the technical skill in the world. But if their confidence is a 3? Their performance tops out at a 2.

So the question isn't "How do I get my dancers to be more confident?"

The question is: "How do I become the kind of leader who knows HOW to build confidence?"

Because when you raise YOUR lid, your team's potential rises with you. This is why I created the Confident Dancer Leadership System. Not to teach your dancers how to be confident. But to teach YOU how to build it in them.

Because EVERYTHING rises and falls on leadership! Continued below…

Let's talk about what happens when you DON'T invest in building your team's confidence. I'm not talking about “theory.” I'm talking about the REAL costs that show up on your bottom line and in your stress levels.

My studio Byfield Dance Experience (BDX) was all adults, so I didn't face the same struggles you're dealing with if you work with kids. But the burnout? The revenue drops when people quit? The nights of doubt wondering if I was cut out for this? That was the same.

Because when confidence breaks down in your studio, the pattern is universal. People leave. Revenue disappears. You exhaust yourself trying to fix it alone. And you start questioning everything about your ability to lead. Yikes!

But here's what I learned:
It's not about being "good enough." It's about having the right TOOLS.

I stopped trying to figure it out alone and learned the mental performance strategies pro athletes AND top leaders use to build confidence in their teams. Then I taught my team how to use them. My studio proved it works for adults too!

If you're still trying to do this on your own, I get it. But you don't have to.

I'm running the FIRST round of Confident Dancer Leadership System this month. It's a 4-week live training that teaches your entire teaching team how to build unshakeable confidence in your dancers. It starts February 15. Registration closes tonight at midnight.

If you're tired of watching talented dancers quit or teams fall apart under pressure, let's talk! Reply to this email or DM me on Instagram. Questions are always welcome.

When I talk to studio owners and teachers, everyone KNOWS they need to build confidence in their dancers. Everyone KNOWS the mental game matters. Everyone KNOWS they can't keep doing this alone.

But knowing isn't the same as deciding. Deciding means you stop waiting for the perfect time. You stop hoping it'll get easier on its own. You stop putting it off until "next season" or "when things calm down."

You make the call.
You take the step.
You invest in the thing that actually changes everything.

And once you decide? The rest is just showing up and doing the work. The tenacity part is easy compared to the decision itself.

So if you've been sitting on the fence about investing in your team's confidence, ask yourself: What's actually holding you back? Because it's probably not what you think it is.

This week, make the decision! The rest will follow. High-five,
Shawn B

If you haven’t downloaded your Dance Teacher Playbook, learn more and grab it here:
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Each week I share strategies to help you coach with heart, lead with courage, and get better results from your dancers. Subscribe to Dance Teacher Insider for motivation, tools, and resources to help your dancers slay every season. It’s free.

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Welcome to Dance Teacher Insider, where passionate teachers and studio owners like you come to recharge, get inspired, and make waves in the dance world. You’re here because you care about more than just the steps… you care about making an impact. I started this newsletter with one mission: to reignite teachers globally. Because when teachers are inspired, dancers thrive.

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