Teaching a class? Kick those nerves!

I remember teaching my first few classes for doTERRA.  I was nervous.  For those of you who know me, you might be thinking, why you teach people for a living?  Yes, and when I first started doing that I was nervous too.  By my professional training I am a pilot...like the airline type.  Through family choices and airlines being a crazy world, I have chosen the path to teach the pilots to fly their business jets.  Adult learning is a little different than a childhood education.  In many ways, it can be intimidating for the instructor.  You can have very experienced individuals in a class to more of the "entry level" types.  Sometimes you are older and sometimes you are not.

After 20 plus months with doTERRA and teaching classes, I am finding quite the same thing.  Sometimes, I am teaching very experienced essential oil users and sometimes I am introducing someone for the first time.  Taking some technique from Vince Lombardi, I keep it basic for all.  He had a famous line he used on his professional football players, "Gentlemen, this is a football."  I try to keep it basic until the more complex issues come up.

I would love to say my first few classes were smooth and lit up the world but in all honesty, they were just okay and maybe even bad.  The good news is, I was teaching something I loved...the oils...to people I cared about....my friends.  They were kind and looked past my stammering.  Your friends and family will too!  They love you and will be thrilled you took the time to introduce them.  

To help any of you out there who intend on teaching classes, I thought I would give a few great tips that I have been taught by professionals and lessons I have learned.

  

First, do NOT expect perfection.  Not even after hundreds of classes.  Something is bound to happen.  You are human and humans are imperfectly perfect.  That is truly a hard statement for my little Type A, super perfectionists, always have a good landing with smiling passengers kind of personality to write.  But it is true.  Learn to laugh it off and move on, especially if the "something" is you.  Being human and showing people how they two can use and share doTERRA's oils is best done by imperfect people in my opinion.

If you must boost your sense of security, while teaching diffuse a few blends.  Citrus Bliss is always a hit but for a bigger emotional support.  I suggest two from Dr. Susan Lawton and Rebecca Hintze  In my diffuser, I have been experimenting with a few of these. I typically do 1/2/3 as my ratio of drops in the Lotus diffuser.

"I am Enough"

Vetiver, Geranium, Peppermint

"I know I am loved, important and respected."

Roman Chamomile, Geranium, Tangerine

Speaking of the Lotus diffuser, it makes a great timer.  You don't want to talk more than 1 hour.  45 minutes is best but 1 hour tops.  Guess what, that Lotus Diffuser runs for 1 hour and shuts off.  Start it when you start talking, and wrap up it up when it turns off!.  People stop learning after 50 minutes mostly due to focus issues. By stopping at 45 minutes, it gives you time i to answer questions and have some one on one time leaving the class about 2 hours total.

Here is another thing that is okay...even in the pilot world.  Someone asks you a question that you have no idea the answer.....it is okay to say, "I don't know but I will look see if I can find an answer and get back with you.  What is the best way I can get an answer back to you?"  The key here is to get an answer and follow up with that person.  It again shows you don't have to know everything thing because lets face it, you can't know everything.  And it shows that you do what you say you are going to do.  Find the answer and now you get to talk to that person again and maybe really help them in more ways than you even know.  I call that a huge win.  Your friend will appreciate that you took time to help them.  

Nerves can take over especially if you don't like public speaking.  Put your talking points on note cards.  Add in note cards that tell you to "Breathe" or "Take a sip of water".  It will slow you down and no one else knows what is on those cards but you.  

Practice Practice Practice.  Talk to yourself in the mirror.  Talk yourself through the class as you are cooking dinner.  Just practice.  It will help you to conquer nerves or at least appear that you have confidence when speaking.  

The power of positive thinking is huge as well!  Go into your class knowing that good will always come out of it.  You will introduce someone to a whole new way to look at health and wellness.  You will get to know a friend a little better.  Something good will always happen.  Everything works out for you!

And always remember.....to quote the great Lombardi again....