Mike Calendine

If followers know you are buying into what they go through on a daily basis, they will know your passion is with theirs.  If you do not show it, even though it is not "'your  style", you will have to battle it to get buy-in.

I know that my leadership skills are strong when the going is good.  However, in bad times, I try to do too much, to have too much influence and slip back into the micro part of this. 

Leadership qualities can be born or learned.  Many people are much more comfortable with some of the duties associated with these tasks but others struggle to get the buy in.

Faculty always battle with this.  They go into teaching to LEAD...but many of their tasks are managerial.  They have to taught to understand the process for the growth into leadership in the class.

A discussion about motivation is great to have with students.  The idea of wanting them to become intrinsically motivated is always a lively one! 

On the first day, you set your guidelines.  This is how the class will run....you don't scare them...you are not out to get them or change who they are.  It is all about growth.

By discussing this type of delivery at the onset of class, I find that many are willing to buy in once they understand the stakes are low and they can make a mistake.

Before students can be involved in this, it should be defined so they know the expectations and the rules of it. This allows them to feel safe.

Making a list of things you can and cannot control will help decide what stress you can deal with.  Many times we worry about things we have no control over.

You need a place to talk and that is not your classroom.  There is NOTHING wrong with adding personal things into your lecture...they humanize you...but it is just a passing statement.  It does not become a 5 minute discussion.