Recruiting quality instructors is similar to recruiting students—potential staff need to see and understand the benefits of dedicating their time, energy, and career to your school. Developing a solid training program is crucial for nurturing your staff and ensuring mutual benefit from the investment of time and effort.
Benefits for Instructors:
- Income: A rewarding career doing something they love.
- Job Security: Long-term stability in their role.
- Respect: Recognition from peers and students.
- Career Advancement: Potential to become a head instructor or manage multiple schools.
- Skill Development: Opportunities to enhance their own martial arts abilities.
When to Start Recruiting: Start looking for potential instructors early, even within weeks of new students joining your school. Some students will naturally excel and show a deep commitment to the martial arts. These individuals might be ideal candidates for instructor roles.
How to Identify Potential Instructors:
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Engage in Conversation: Regularly ask students questions that might reveal their interest in teaching. For example:
- “Joe, what do you do for a living? How do you feel about it?”
- “Joe, our leadership team participates in special classes that improve their teaching skills and help in their careers. Is this something that might interest you?”
- “If we were talking in three years and everything went perfectly, what would you be doing?”
- “How do you feel about your job? Is there something else you’d prefer to do?”
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Build Trust: These questions should be asked progressively, allowing you to build a relationship and trust with the student.
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Look Beyond Rank: While some students may be ideal candidates even if they are relatively new, the potential is more important than their current rank. Focus on their growth potential and dedication rather than where they start.
By nurturing potential staff members and providing clear benefits, you increase the likelihood of successful recruitment and long-term staff retention.
