Congratulations you are now a level 1 ski instructor! So what’s next? That highly anticipated first lesson of your ski teaching career.
If you are like most of us, this moment comes with a lot of mixed emotions. Customers have paid good money to have you share your knowledge and skill. Being nervous, unsure of how to proceed and shy are normal feelings.
How do we measure the success of any lesson?
Simple – Customer Satisfaction.
Here are a couple of easy tactics that you can use when you step up to the plate to teach that first lesson and create that satisfaction.
I always encourage our pros to imagine that their lesson is a play and that as the curtain goes up it is show time! Time to become the best ski pro they can be. Remember you have been empowered by the CSIA to teach. You know the basics. Have faith in yourself!
Start every lesson with your goggles off of your face so that you can make eye contact, smile and confidently welcome your students to the experience!
Shake hands with adults and get down to eye level as you meet and greet children.
Listen to your students! This actually takes practice but it is the only way to make sure the lesson goal is identified.
And lastly use the KISS theory as you plan your lesson. Keep It Super Simple. The most common mistake we see new pros making is trying to share everything they know in one lesson! Pick one thing to work with …this will serve you well.
Close the lesson with a recap of what you did and how the student should continue on. Consider mileage, terrain and the timing of the next lesson.
From start to finish you must be professional!
Remember you only get one chance to make a great first impression. First impressions only take four to five seconds to form. BUT it takes three times as long to change it.
How do you make a great first impression? Remember this; there are three key components that everyone subconsciously uses to form an opinion.
One; how you look, two; how you communicate both verbally and with your body language, and three; what you say.
So look the part, think twice and speak once!
At the end of the day we know that customers take lessons so that they can become better skiers. Developing their skills to a new level gives skiers more opportunity to enjoy the sport………so here is the best advice yet….make it fun and enjoyable because that is exactly why your student is on skis!
Kim Roberts
Alpine Ski Programs Director
