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Now, we all know how important the feedback from our participants is, I always try to encourage them to speak up, tell me what they liked and didn't, what they think could be better etc. Music too quiet/loud, I should be more something and do less other? No problem, will do my best to improve and the next class will be better. But have just encountered the worst kind of feedback - anonymous, negative and not constructive the least bit and to be honest, I'm quite upset. 

 

To explain, there's a popular message board over here where people discuss all kinds of things and also sports clubs and instructors. And someone made a topic about another instructor (in a club where I substituted for a couple of classes), that they didn't like her, what she did wrong and all that, but added at the end that she was better than me. And someone else there agreed.

So while I can console myself with that they saw me when I was just teaching my very first classes and I know I have improved a lot since then, it's still not too fun to read and the worst part is, I don't know what they didn't like and what I could do differently. So how do you guys manage when something like this happens?

 

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No animals were harmed in posting this message, although the yorkshire terrier next door is living on borrowed time, let me tell you.

Generally I like feedback from my classes however when it gets personal and taken to a media site thats not cool they should speak to the person concerned.

In my day job had this situation where a friend of mine told me that one student was talking about me. I found out it was one student they were used to a certain teaching style and was not used to my way of teaching. Eventually the student came around to the way I was teaching the subject and enjoyed the time they completed their certificate with me. It is a two way communicaion channel and the only way to make it work is to.

Talk - Connect and Communicate!

 IMO!

Not nice for you at all.

 

Last year a member who comes to MY BC classes REGULARLY, completed a comment card asking if the BC instructor who taught on Wed nights (and only pulled about 12 - 16 people, compared to my 30 - 40 on Mon and Thurs nights!) could REPLACE ME.  Firstly I was puzzled as she always comes to my classes.  Secondly, the worst part was she finished her comment with 'Everyone else agrees", which is of course hearsay (and no doubt a lie, or why were the other instructor's classes SO MUCH quieter than mine, in the same time-slot?).  Thirdly this was not long after I had given her alot of advice on her neck problem when she attended my classes, advising her what moves to take care on and to see how she felt during the class before pushing herself too far and re-injuring - I would always ask before and after each class how her injury was and how it felt etc....

 

Fortunately my numbers speak for themselves for me to have only chewed on it for a few WEEKS , and now that Wed BC class has GONE due to falling numbers and that Instructor has given up her BC classes altogether as she doesn't like the last few releases.   I remain the BUSIEST 3 classes on the whole timetable (all 3 are BC).  So Ulla, try and focus on the people and members that you know enjoy your classes - look at the hard facts and let this one pass.  It's just one stupid comment from a BRAINLESS IDIOT.  It's amazing how nasty people can be without realising how much this can affect us at times.  I think they forget we are human too and have feelings - UNLIKE THEM!

 

WE know you are fabulous!  Let that be ALL that matters.

Maybe discuss the "feedback" with the GFM at that facility. Let him/her know that you read the message board and are interested in finding out what exactly it is that you need to correct. Perhaps the GFM can solicit feedback from the particiapnts so that at least you can find out what it is that the participants didn't like about your class.

 Another idea is that you could respond via the message board with something like "I am interested in my participants having a good workout experience. Please tell me what I need to fix." ...and sign your name.

Hang in there! Every instructor I know has become stronger with time and experience. Know that you are giving it your all and continue to teach for your participants!

I am a participant not an instructor, however, as a school teacher I can appreciate that reading about negative feedback on a public forum is not much fun.  For any Les Mills class I find that some instructors work better for me than others.  This is often personality based, as I like instructors who have fun in class (not too serious).  However, just because I like that, I appreciate that not everyone does.  It is the same with the kids I teach.  Some like my style (in fact most do given that I have increased my class sizes in an elective area) but I'm sure some don't.  I always encourage my students to come and see me if they have any issues, and they generally do.  Sometimes we agree to disagree.  Tha's life.  In the end though, if both parties treat each other with respect and sensitivity then a good outcome can be reached.  Good luck with it.

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry someone posted this on a public board and didn't confront you or give you more specifics. ((hugs))

 Michelle

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Check out our podcast at www.lifewithtwins.net!!!

Chances are that if this is the method someone is using, to underhandedly debase you by posting on a public forum, they are also up to no good.  If they want changes they can go to someone who matters and present their issues- otherwise they are doing nothing but stirring up sh*t and you should just take their opinions as meaningless.

We can't be everything to everybody, and some people are only happy when it rains.  But as long as you are doing your best and reaching the majority of your participants, you are doing what you are there to do.

I have had times when I have subbed for another instructor for a few weeks because that instructor goes away, takes training, is on mat leave, etc and to maintain consistency it is good to have one other person to instruct the classes for the duration.  I understand that at first people are rather accustomed to their regular instructor and meet me with a very scrutinous eye.  But my frame of mind is that, "I don't really care if you like my personality or delivery right off the bat.  I am here to give you the workout you came for and send you home validated." Of course I don't state this to them verbatim, I do it by taking control of the class and getting right down to business in a no-nonsense, direct way.

Once we get through a class or a couple of them, most participants usually come around, since I let them come to me when they are ready.  And when they see that I genuinely care about how they are exercising, using technique, and communicate with them on an ongoing basis throughout the class, they usually appreciate this and understand that their regular instructor just has another method of leading the class.

I have even had several times when the class has asked when their instructor is taking more time off and I am coming back....

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Changing the shape of the world one class at a time.

thanks guys 

 well i guess I was over-reacting a bit as well, my first time.. anyway now those same people were also saying that they didn't like another instructor either whom I consider the best in the country and whose classes are always packed. And some other instructors told me about the comments they have read about themselves on that message board - oh boy, compared to those, did I ever get off lightly
 

but for any participants reading -  as you can see, instructors have feelings as well   So next time you think someone could do something better, tell us! Believe me, it's a lot better and more useful to hear constructive criticism directly than to be slagged off behind our backs.

 

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No animals were harmed in posting this message, although the yorkshire terrier next door is living on borrowed time, let me tell you.

Firstly, think about how much feedback you get from people who enjoy your class.  You're not going to be the perfect instructor to everyone that does your class.  People will always have their favourites and doing something that makes people smile and have fun won't have the effect on 100% of the people.  I think this is why it's important to have a variety of different people instructing a program so that their's variety in the classes and hits a larger audience over the entire week.

 

Best thing you can do, is just to continue to be yourself on stage and if there are people that don't connect with your style of teaching then they can always attend another instructors class.  It's easy to change things like music volume but if people want you to be someone else then they're asking something they shouldn't be.