Establish Who is in Charge.
Achieving compliance is an exercise in purpose, not power. Students need to follow directions quickly and completely so that they can be assured of having the best chance to succeed. Although that often involves absolute responsiveness to their instructors, this responsiveness is the means, not the end. “I need your eyes on me so you can learn,” is a more effective statement than, “I asked for your eyes on me because when I ask you to do something, I expect you to do it.” While you should expect students to do something when you ask them to, it’s not really about you in the end; it’s about them and their path to college. Command obedience not because you can or because it feels good but because it serves your students. Make that distinction evident in your language, tone, and demeanor.
Keep it Impersonal.
Stress the importance of universal compliance as something the students need to succeed. The more time spent on intervention, the less time there is to learn and succeed. How you respond to maintain your 100% compliance standard is important. The less personal it is, the more effective the outcome.
For instance, “I need your eyes on me so you can learn and earn your orange belt,” is more effective than “Jim, I want your eyes on me because I told you so. Do what I say.” Remember, it’s always about the student in the end. It’s not about your ego as a master martial artist. By not using Jim’s name in the first example, the instructor was keeping it impersonal though if non-compliance amplifies, using his name will zero the response in.
Eyes on You!
A common technique to gain the attention of the class is for the instructor to teach the class that when he says, “Eyes on who?” They respond with a loud, “Eyes on you!” Then stand and turn to face the instructor.
Avoid marginal compliance. It’s not just whether your students do what you’ve asked but whether they do it right. A certain number will complete a task only as fully as you show them you expect it completed. They’ll rightly want to know what exactly “eyes on me” means. Eyes near you? Eyes on yours for a fleeting second and then make faces in the mirror? Eyes locked on yours while you’re talking? The difference among these three interpretations is night and day.