When I teach a class, I almost invariably have a student early on who gets behind everyone at some point, leaving us to wait for him or her too get with the program. I have a carefully rehearsed speech in which I point out that this person is behind and is holding the entire class up. It is initially an uncomfortable moment. The class understandably feels sorry for him or her being pointed out. Then I continue by saying that I have been in that situation many, many times in the past, and I expect to be in that position many times in the future. I know how it feels. I tell them that everyone of them will be in that situation as they continue to dive. Thus, there is no reason to be embarrassed about it, but embarrassed they will be. I point out that when that happens is when mistakes will be made, and I assure them that in my rush in such situations, I have myself made grievous errors. And so, when we are late and feel rushed, it is the time to slow down and make sure we are not making foolish errors because of the peer pressure we feel. I then make sure that I am as calm and collected as I can as I wait for that student to be finished and totally ready to go. It works pretty well, and that late student is extremely grateful for being so clearly made to be a lesson in patience instead of a lesson in screwing up.
