It is important for us to remember that our students have a lot of options when it comes to where they spend their time and money. And they will always have enough time and money for the things most important to them. One of our jobs for every time they leave is to make sure our students think, “Wow!! That was great, I’m so glad I went to class!!”
Let’s discuss what makes this possible. The first thing to remember is there is more to it than just teaching a great class. It starts from the moment your students enter your parking lot until the moment they leave the school and every moment in between. My good friend, Kyoshi Tom Clifford, talks about the Red, White & Blue Theory for Success in the Martial Arts.
- Red - stands for the “Red Carpet Treatment” and refers to the importance of having an incredibly inviting atmosphere.
- White - stands for the “White Glove Theory” and refers to having an immaculately clean school; impeccably well-groomed instructors; and a “G” rated environment.
- Blue - stands for “Blue Ribbon Customer Service” and refers to delivering all you’ve promised and more.
With that said, I challenge you to rate your school from 1 – 10 in the following areas:
1. Location
____Adequate # of parking spaces
____Accessibility from the street
____Lighting
____Cleanliness
____Safety
____Exterior appearance of the building
2. First Contact
____Odor
____Professional appearance
____Greeting
____Positive energy
3. Class
____Friendliness of Instructors
____Appearance of the floor
____Parent Interaction
____Safety
____Instructor/Student relationship
____Progress recognition
____Class planning
4. Post-Class
____Announcements and Handouts
____Class to class transition
____Between class crowd control
____Exit traffic flow
Tally up your scores and see where you are weak. What can you do to strengthen those weaknesses?
(photo credit recchionandassociates.com)
