Learning to Be an Authentic Teacher with Jennifer Louden

Jennifer opens with an insight that reframes how we think about authentic teaching: authenticity and self-trust are intertwined. You can't develop your voice as an authentic expert without first learning to trust yourself.

This isn't about confidence or expertise—it's about believing that what you have to share matters. Many course creators second-guess themselves constantly, trying to sound like other teachers instead of embracing their own perspective.

Jennifer introduces a powerful metaphor: helicopter teaching. Just as helicopter parents hover over their children, helicopter teachers hover too much over their students—micromanaging every step of the learning journey.

The alternative? Emphasize the container of the learning experience and give people space to explore. Trust that your students are capable adults who can find their own path within the structure you've created.

Jennifer shares two fundamental questions that every course creator should sit with: What do I really want to create in this business? And what am I hungry for?

These aren't casual questions—they require deep reflection. The answers reveal the intersection between your passion and your students' needs. When you teach from that intersection, your courses become irresistible.

One of Jennifer's core principles: we have the biggest impact when we teach small bits, then iterate. You can't take people from Point A to Point C all at once—you need to guide them through Point B first.

This has profound implications for course design. Instead of creating massive comprehensive programs, focus on helping students achieve one small, meaningful accomplishment. Then build from there.

Here's an insight that transforms generic courses into powerful ones: in owning what we know, we become specific. If we drift away from trusting what we know, we become generic—and no one wants generic.

Your unique perspective, your particular way of understanding your topic, your specific examples and stories—these are what make your course valuable. Don't water them down trying to appeal to everyone.

Jennifer is emphatic about content reduction: always push to reduce, edit, and simplify. No one wants a "firehose" of content from you.

Her practical advice? Make an outline—then cut it in half. The urge to include everything you know is natural, but it doesn't serve your students. Less content, delivered well, beats comprehensive content that overwhelms.

Jennifer offers a reality check: it's not enough just to be excited about your teaching. A big part of your time must be spent building relationships and being in front of people so they can discover your work.

This isn't about aggressive marketing—it's about genuine connection. And when you do create online programs, do everything you can with technology to make them as intimate, dynamic, and engaging as possible.