As we know, owning a studio is very demanding, ever changing and always challenging. That is nothing new to most of us. Many times things become complicated when there is a lack of communication. Perhaps it is the communication link between you and your staff and faculty or it could be that some things are not getting through to your clients, the parents and students. It is very easy to get caught up in the moment when you own a dance studio because there are so many "moments" that can occur on a day to day basis that it is easy to sometimes forget to really make time to communicate how we want things to run in an effective way. Trust me, I know that it is not always easy but I do know that by forgetting or not making time to talk to the very people who make our business survive we are definitely making a mistake that over time could cost us.
When was the last time you met with your staff? Perhaps you do on a regular basis but if you don't it is important to seize the moment to make a plan and schedule to go over things with them. Usually your staff whether it is one person or ten, are the people who are on the front lines. They are the ones who talk to prospective clients when they first walk through your door. They hear all the stories from your clients both good and bad. They answer the myriad of questions constantly asked; in many cases they know more about your clients than you do. How they represent you and follow through with your mission statement is vitally important to the growth of your business. If they work at the front desk they know exactly what works for them or doesn't but they may need some help with organization or saving steps. Perhaps they are not very computer savvy and need help in that direction or they may be giving the wrong impression of you and your business just by the way they answer the phone or questions asked of them. The only way you are really going to be able to tell what goes on during each day is to meet with them. These meetings do not have to take hours but you will be able to keep your hand on the pulse of what is your business if you make time for them. It is also a great way to let the people who work for you know that they are truly appreciated. Sometimes I have found that even when I feel that I am showing my appreciation of the work they do that it is not always perceived in the right way. It is something I am very aware of and it certainly helps when the people around you feel appreciated because they will really be there for you and have your back.
At a lot of studios, faculty and students are running from class to class and very often because of schedules it is difficult to find the time to talk with teachers. I have found that the best way for me is to ask my teachers to come in once a month a little earlier than normal so that I can sit down with them and go over their classes with them to make sure that everything is going as planned. Very often we come up with some great ideas for choreography or classes but more importantly it gives me a chance to talk casually and it gives the teacher the opportunity to let me know if there is a problem or if they are unhappy or happy about their job. It is always better to find out sooner rather than later if there is a problem because then you can tackle it before it becomes a major issue. I really enjoy getting to know my teachers and understanding what their goals are both for them professionally and personally. It helps me to make the best working environment possible for all of us.
Lack of communication is often interpreted as lack of caring and that is something that you don't want to happen because most of us do care passionately about our studios and just about everyone connected to them. Today it is so easy to let your clients, faculty and staff be aware of what is going on at the studio by email and it costs nothing to do so. Keep everyone in the loop by sending emails out on a regular basis so that you are basically training everyone to check to see if they have received one from you. This is especially important with the parents of your students just make sure that your emails are not blocked.
Communicating with your students is just as important and will make them feel welcome and noticed. Every student wants their teacher to take notice of them and it takes very little effort to say a kind word to each one either in class or between classes. This is especially important with the recreational students because they very often feel intimidated by the more proficient students. By giving them a little extra attention you will encourage them to feel more at home and ultimately to take more classes.
Keep those lines of communication open and not only will your life be easier but it will help your studio to thrive.
