Getting to know your students on a personal level is crucial for building strong relationships and fostering student retention in your martial arts school. While this may seem challenging, especially with a large student base, it’s an essential part of creating a welcoming and supportive environment. Enlisting the help of your assistant instructors can make this task more manageable and effective.
The Power of Personal Connection
People love to talk about themselves, and good communicators know how to tap into this. When you engage with your students, offer them a compliment or ask about something important to them. This can lead to deeper conversations about their experiences, interests, families, and even their school or work life. The more you connect with your students on a personal level, the more valued and important they’ll feel, making them more likely to stay with your program.
Think about how impressed you are when someone remembers details about your life, like your spouse’s name, your kids, or even a trip you mentioned in passing. It makes you feel valued and deepens your connection with that person. This same principle applies to your students—the more valuable they feel to you and your class, the more likely they are to stay.
Strategies for Connecting with Students
To build these connections, make it a point to have in-depth conversations with each of your students at least once a month. Keep track of whom you’ve spoken with and what you’ve discussed. Ensure these conversations are productive and encourage students to open up. For instance, instead of asking a generic question like “How’s school?” try something more specific like, “I know you were having trouble coming up with an idea for your history paper. What did you end up writing about?” This approach not only opens the lines of communication but also shows that you care about their experiences.
Managing these details might seem overwhelming, but there are practical steps you can take. Make it a habit to talk to students before and after class, walk them to their cars, and take a moment to chat with their parents about their progress. After these interactions, jot down notes about what you’ve discussed. Organize these details in a way that makes them easily accessible for future reference.
Encouraging and Supporting Your Students
It’s also important to consistently express your pleasure with a student’s progress, no matter their skill level. Focus on the positive aspects of their development, which offers hope and encouragement to struggling students. This positive reinforcement makes them more likely to keep trying rather than dropping out.
Another tip is to adjust your schedule to ensure you’re available to your students at least five minutes before and after class. These small windows of time can be incredibly valuable for connecting with students and showing them that you genuinely care.
While this level of communication requires effort and time, it’s essential for teaching and retaining students. Involve your assistant instructors in this process to help manage the load. Ultimately, treating each person who walks through your door, as well as those who accompany them, with genuine respect and interest will go a long way in building a strong, loyal student base.