The You, Me & We Philosophy

     Allegro families, we are so excited to tell you about a special recognition Miss Janet received from our amazing affiliation More Than Just Great Dancing® in their most recent newsletter!
     As you know, here at Allegro we believe that a cooperative team effort from our staff helps create the best kind of environment for our dance parents and students. MTJGD interviewed Miss Janet about leadership and methods for educating staff, including a spotlight on her “You, Me, & We” philosophy.
     Here is a sample of the interview:
    At Allegro School of Dance and Music in Rochester, Minnesota, you’ll find that Janet Johnson is the type of studio owner who leads with a quiet yet strong surety and a bird’s eye view of her business. She sees her school’s success as the sweet spot where the customers, faculty, and leadership all intersect. With a desire to empower and equip her staff of 18, Janet recently crafted a decision-making concept that would serve as her team’s go-to reference on reaching that sweet spot.
     “In past years, I realized there was a disconnect between the staff and the entity of Allegro when it came to communications, policies, and authority,” explains Janet. “I realized I needed to reframe the picture of the way everyone was expected to contribute.”
    Reframing this picture led Janet to come up with a Venn diagram of “You, Me, & We” decision-making expectations. She wanted to take the guesswork out of her staff’s way and provide them with a clearer understanding of how they could make an impact with their decisions … and when to step back.
     Janet says that she teaches her staff how each part of the diagram has important influence on the entire organization of Allegro … Carrying out this “You, Me, & We” model with her team has proven successful; Janet reports that it truly is empowering her people with the clarity they need to understand their roles.
    “I want them to be winning in this massive way,” says Janet about her team. “I want to challenge them to climb up the mountain, not go around it. And seeing them experience this organic, natural growth in this way … that’s winning for me too.
     Ultimately it is our dancers and their families who experience the impact of our work, so if we are winning at what we do, and sowing these seeds, then we know our families can reap the benefits of all that Allegro has to offer. They are the ones who truly benefit the most!”
     Miss Janet is both honored and humbled that MTJGD has acknowledged her efforts in this newsletter feature. She is proud that Allegro is considered a leader and innovator within this affiliation of nearly 300 dance studios across the country and Canada.
​    Most especially, Miss Janet loves having the opportunity to showcase what an outstanding team of employees Allegro has serving its dance families. It’s truly special to have staff members who work in such a symbiotic way, uniting in our mission to create a safe and nurturing learning environment where our students can succeed in dance and in life!

Janet with Misty Lown, founder and president of More Than Just Great Dancing

Studio Owner University participants, Palm Springs, California, January 2019