Now, here's the really cool thing - you have control over every one of those reasons, and you have the power to eliminate them, one by one from your school.
Let's start with boredom... are you in a rut as an instructor?
Be honest now - when was the last time you changed up the way you teach your classes?
Well, if you're bored with the way you're teaching class, then your students are too. So, change things up!
Switch around the order that you teach class in, learn some new drills and add those in, use music, take the training outside, have the students train in their street clothes - heck, there are a million ways you can change things up and make them exciting and new.
Just a little effort towards keeping things interesting and exciting can make a BIG difference in your retention numbers.
And how about students who just think you don't care about them? Well, are you taking the time to let them know you care?
Are you using their first name in every class? Do you greet students when they come in the school, by name? Do you send them good job notes and birthday cards (and not that automated stuff - I'm talking hand-written notes)?
Do you have student appreciation events that are absolutely free to attend? Do you use praise and other motivational techniques in your classes? Do you spend time with each student individually in every class?
If not, might I suggest doing those things?
Now, injuries are a no-brainer. If you can't teach a class without students getting injured, then you're doing something wrong.
Of course, the harder you train the greater the likelihood for injuries. That's just a given. But, you should still have a handle on how to minimize the risk so students don't get hurt very often, if at all.
And let's talk about fear - fear is the enrollment-killer. And it's relatively easy to deal with and prevent.
For one, implement a system of graduated sparring. Don't just throw people into the ring and let them go at it. Ease them into it. Have specific rules for contact, and don't allow beginners to spar hard, ever.
As for testing, well - tests are supposed to be stressful. However, you can alleviate the fear of the process by giving students plenty of time to experience those conditions in class.
Simply by telling them, "This is what it's going to be like on your test," and by having CLEAR PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS, you can alleviate a great deal of the fear and stress associated with testing...
...and also, you can increase your students' performance on their next exam as well.
Just by addressing these four issues, you can GREATLY increase your retention in your dojo.
And that in turn will also GREATLY increase your monthly tuition checks over time as well.
So, put a little effort into customer service and retention - I guarantee that it'll be worth it a few months down the road when you see those monthly tuition payments soaring.
Until next time,
Mike Massie
MartialArtsBusinessDaily.com
