Dog Training

Managing my Dogs

I was leading a teacher-training course, sharing my experience of the many thoughts that come to me, especially those that I hear when I am on stage in front of teachers. I said the thoughts sounded like dogs barking at me. It’s a phrase that resonated with the teachers. That experience helped me to create a metaphorical dog training school where I found a way to give each of my dogs a constructive purpose.

My Energy Dog

I have one dog that tells me, “You don’t have enough energy!” I thank the dog for the warning and make sure I charge my batteries before I take on the next task, and plan time to recharge them after completing it.

Rationale: We all have thoughts that we don't have enough or are not good enough, in some way or another. We can exert some measure of control over them by reflecting on their true purpose. The thought, “I am not good enough” is not meant to be a statement of unshakeable truth. It is asking us to learn more, do more, be more; until we are good enough.

Classroom Activities

When we hear our students' dogs barking, it's the right time to teach them how to manage them. This can be a stand-alone lesson for the whole class, or a quick one-to-one for the student whose dogs are making a lot of noise.

Activity: Name and Tame

When you hear students saying negative things about themselves, invite them to take control of their thoughts. Say;

"Name the thoughts that are making you say that."

"Now tell me what you want your thoughts to say instead."

Activity: The Power of Yet

A simple way to moderate negative thoughts is to add the word 'yet' at the end. If you hear students saying, “I am not good enough" encourage them to turn it into, “I am not good enough, yet.” Then you can decide what, if anything, you will do about becoming good enough.

Alternatives. You can add 'when', 'unless' or 'until'

I will be good enough when ...

I am not good enough unless ...

I won't be good enough, until ...

Steps to a Coaching Classroom

Positive Language is one of the 12 steps to a Coaching Classroom

The first self-development book is available here, and the second book here, on Amazon. For the best postal options, choose the Amazon outlet nearest you.