Great Lessons from BAD Role Models

    Yes, I know it sounds counter-intuitive but bear me out. The people who behave badly (be they bosses, colleagues, cousins or coaches) are often the best teachers. Why? They clearly demonstrate what NOT to do or say.  In Face to Face, I talked about the teacher across the hall who the best role model...of what didn't work and how I didn't want to teach or relate to the students and parents.
    If the truth be told, I've been known to roll my eyes in varying circumstances. It could mean: "You have got to be kidding!" Or, "They pay you for this?"  And sometimes it's about food." Persimmon pie?  I don't this so."
    Every time our principal assigned Ms.Awful Teacher a student teacher, my eyes would roll. Then one day, I "got" it. I said to Mr. H, "How clever of you to assign Ms Awful a student teacher."  He was wary and waited for the one-two punch line.  "Really Susan, you approve?" "Absolutely. She is a great role model for any student teacher.... of what NOT to do."  He laughed and I learned the truth.  We learn as much, if not more, from people who demonstrate their shortcomings.
   This week I learned a great lesson. An aerobic instructor with a great following and fun class just couldn't get the beat, count or transition. He was a knee injury waiting to happen. Nevertheless, I always went to his class. Everytime he counted to four but move on three, my eye-rolling was in full force. I never verbally criticized him or called him on it in class. But my rolling eyes were revealing.  It didn't matter because everyone else loved his class and he'd pack in 40-50 samba-ing devotees.
   Then he gave up to the evening  class and a new teacher was hired. His were big dance shoes for the  new teacher to fill.  One of his devotees came to class saying she was giving the new teacher a chance. I watched her roll her eyes.  Ummm.  Then Ms. Devotee decided to let the teacher know that we needed her to "break down" the steps. She said a few more things that were untrue and, to be retro, just plain rude. After class, five of us rushed up to the teacher (whose feelings seemed to be hurt) to say that we loved the class, were able to do her choreography and that we'd tell everyone to join us. In that moment, I realized what a great lesson I learned from Ms Devotee. I saw myself in her mirror.
  At that moment I decided to be more gracious to my instructors, especially the fellow with the following. He is doing the best he can; learning along with the rest of us and trying to provide a fun way to "dance up" our cardio rates.  What he doesn't need is any eye-rolling from me. I will be forever grateful for Ms. Devotee's outburst as it was a great lesson from a badly behaved role model.