Hello Friend.
I hope you are enjoying your half-term break!
When I started trying to manage my classrooms, I struggled.
Nothing from my traditional CPD training worked, and I was getting my butt kicked daily.
So, I spent hundreds of hours and thousands of pounds learning to communicate effectively.
And I realised it’s not what I said but how I said it.
Some people classify it as the ‘X-Factor.’
Others call it charisma.
But I call it ‘classroom presence.’
Mastering your body language, tone and specific verbal techniques will make you a classroom leadership Jedi knight.
Here are my five secret weapons that help me:
• Build rapport
• Deescalate situations
• Make my communication more persuasive
And now they are yours. 😎
Let’s crack on, shall we?
#1: Master ‘Open’ Body Language
Here’s how it works:
• Smile!
• Stand shoulder wide apart
• Stand straight and open out your chest
• Use hand gestures to articulate your main points
The reason why open body language works actually comes from our evolution.
Most of our major organs are in the ‘trunk’ of our body.
In ancient times, a stab to the heart, lungs, stomach, or intestines was fatal.
Thus, when we feel scared, we tend to ‘hug’ ourselves for protection.
Opening our bodies shows that we are not afraid of harm and signals confidence.
Your favourite sportspeople, celebrities and politicians do these' open gestures' to make them seem more powerful.
Doing these simple things will make you feel confident. Try ‘em.
#2: The Late Night FM DJ Voice
This was coined by the FBI’s former lead international kidnapping negotiator, Chris Voss. He used this tone to calm back robbers and terrorists in crisis situations.
Here’s how it works:
• Slow your speech down by 15%
• Lower your pitch slightly, talking with a downward-lit
• Don’t forget to smile or at least keep your face neutral.
Think Barry White or James Earl Jones as Mufasa. Use this tone in ‘flashpoint’ situations.
Talking in this tone soothes the other person’s nervous system. We do this with crying babies all the time.
Quick note: Don’t issue threats. That’s a mistake. These steps work better.
#3: The ‘Gus Fring Method’
Slowing your response keeps you regulated and shows that you are in control of the situation. In the face of aggression, pressure or rudeness:
• Avoid lashing out
Do this instead:
• Take a deep breath
• Keep a neutral gaze
• Take 2 – 5 seconds before you respond
Gus Fring, the main villain from Breaking Bad, is a model of coolness under pressure.
His sphinx-like gaze made him impossible to read – and terrifying to watch.
No, I don’t condone the actions of a murderous cartel boss (it is fiction, after all.) But the actor Giancarlo Esposito did a cracking job to bring Gus to life.
You can ‘borrow’ this technique in high-pressure situations. Aggressors will try to intimidate you to know you off-kilter.
If you avoid going bananas and keep yourself regulated, you’ll unlock a better outcome.
Easy, nope?
Necessary? Absolutely.
#4: Mirroring
Want to build rapport with other people quickly? Try ‘mirroring.’
Mirroring is simply repeating a couple of words that the other person has said, often as a question. The best words to pick are usually at the end of their sentence.
For example, if a student says:
“I’m sick of this school, and nobody understands me.”
You could say:
“You’re sick of this school?”
or
“Nobody understands you?”
This:
a) Builds rapport
b) Signals that you’re listening and help them engage their neo-cortex, the brain’s thinking centre.
c) It gathers information – people tend to elaborate when they have been mirrored.
This works like magic. Go home and try it on your partner – you’ll thank me later. 😉
If you marry it with #5, you’ll be unto a winner…
#5: Labelling
Labelling is verbally acknowledging the other person’s emotions.
“It seems like you are stressed at the moment.”
“It sounds like you are angry with John.”
“It seems like you feel really sad.”
Brain scans have shown that simply labelling emotions helps to soothe the amygdala, which is the “emotional centre of the brain.”
Labelling helps students:
• Identify and express their feelings
• Calm them down
• Create space to resolve the situation peacefully.
Pro tip: avoid using 'I.' It signals to the other person you are thinking about yourself. Depersonalise the statements. Use 'it' instead.
That’s it!
These five simple techniques have given me a classroom presence ‘black belt.’ And they will do it for you as well!
Great news! After a two-year hiatus, I’m back to making video content again!
You will get all the great TOTR classroom leadership tips in one-minute-long ‘snackable’ video shorts.
If you haven’t already, follow me on Instagram and TikTok, by clicking the link below:
https://www.instagram.com/actionheroteacher/
https://www.tiktok.com/@actionheroteacher?lang=en
The first new videos will be out in March 2025.
The next TOTR newsletter will be on Thursday 6th March.
See you then!
Karl
