Let’s say the quiet part out loud.
Most studio owners didn’t dream of managing adults.
You dreamed of:
teaching
choreographing
building confident kids
creating community
Not chasing timesheets.
Not awkward feedback conversations.
Not wondering if someone will mark the roll.
Not stressing about payroll.
And yet — here we are.
In a recent Dance Principles United Tribe coaching call (which we’ve shared as a sneak peek on the podcast), Amanda and Bec unpacked something that changes everything:
Staff issues are usually clarity issues.
When studio owners say:
“She’s not taking initiative.”
“He’s not committed.”
“They don’t care like I do.”
“This class isn’t growing.”
We gently ask:
Have you clearly defined what success looks like?
Because teachers can’t meet expectations that were never communicated.
And when expectations live only in your head, resentment builds — fast.
Before we even get into performance, let’s talk about the foundation: trust.
If your staff:
aren’t sure when they’ll be paid
don’t understand their rate
don’t know what concert day includes
aren’t clear on at-home responsibilities
They will carry low-level stress.
And stressed staff don’t become loyal staff.
Pay on time.
Be clear about super.
Explain what’s included in their role.
Document it.
Professionalism builds stability.
Here’s where most studios fall down.
We assume teachers “should just know.”
But should they?
If they’ve come straight from full-time training, they likely know how to dance — not how to:
manage behaviour
communicate with parents
mark attendance properly
upsell additional classes
post on social media appropriately
align choreography with studio values
That’s your job.
Set expectations clearly.
Repeat them regularly.
Write them down.
Train them properly.
And if something slips? Address it early — not when you’re already annoyed.
The words “staff appraisal” sound scary.
They don’t need to be.
A simple 30-minute meeting once per term (or twice a year) can:
open communication
prevent resentment
identify gaps early
give teachers clarity
strengthen loyalty
Ask them:
How do you think you went this term?
What support do you need?
What do you want to improve?
How can we help you grow?
When people feel seen and developed, they stay.
There’s a culture in our industry of:
“If they’re not great, replace them.”
But replacing doesn’t fix broken systems.
Upskilling does.
If someone struggles with:
behaviour management → train them
choreography → mentor them
technique delivery → bring in a coach
confidence → support them
Because here’s the hard truth:
If you don’t train your staff and they stay, your studio stagnates.
If you train them and they leave? At least you had strong teaching while they were with you.
Leadership requires investment.
One of the most powerful parts of the Tribe call was this:
Know your studio values — clearly.
Family.
Excellence.
Inclusivity.
Age-appropriate choreography.
Professionalism.
Community.
Whatever they are — define them.
Because when a teacher suggests something outside those values, you can refer back calmly:
“That doesn’t align with our values.”
No drama.
Just clarity.
Marketing Isn’t “Their Problem”
When a class isn’t growing, don’t immediately blame the teacher.
Ask:
Are we marketing it properly?
Are we running ads?
Are we promoting it on social media?
Have we trained the teacher on conversion?
Have we spoken to them about retention?
Leadership means shared responsibility — not blame.
If this episode made you uncomfortable, that’s okay.
Leadership growth usually does.
You didn’t sign up to be a boss.
But you are one.
And when you embrace that role — instead of avoiding it — your entire studio changes.
Stronger culture.
Better retention.
Less resentment.
Clearer communication.
More confidence.
And most importantly — less chaos.
You don’t need to be a perfect leader.
You just need to be a clear one.
If you listened to this episode and thought:
“Okay… I need to tighten up my leadership.”
That’s exactly what Tribe is for.
Inside, you’ll find:
Training slides you can literally use tomorrow
Behaviour management resources
Live coaching calls like the one you just heard
A room full of studio owners navigating the same things
As a podcast listener, you get 2 weeks free to come and see what it’s like.
No pressure.
Just support.
We’d genuinely love to have you inside 💛
