Group Fitness Instructors: Have you ever overheard members talking smack about your class in the locker room? What did you do?
I got a complaint about one of my Zumba classes from a gym member that had been taking my class for months. I had tried all new choreography -and she had yet to get down the previous. After class, I asked people what they thought. She told me that she didn’t like how I taught (yet continued to come), she didn’t like the dances, I should face away from the class, do this, do that, do whatever other instructors do. So my next class (seeing other members said maybe TOO much new chorey at once) I threw some older chorey in and I noticed the lady that had nothing nice to say to me last class … while EVERYONE else is faced toward me- she was facing the corner or the BACK of the room!!!!! She complained to the owner of the club that she didn’t like my class (and continued to come) because she didn’t pay enough attention to my numerous cues or really anything going on in class to get the moves down. I just had to let that one go. Nothing I said or did was to her approval. We can’t please everyone every time I guess so, I didn’t take it very personally. I accomidated her requests, thats all I could do to try. She still complained.
In general to answer this question, I make sure I am always approachable, ask if anyone has any questions before class, suggestions or feedback after class. This gives them an outlet to bring issues to me instead of making negative remarks elsewhere.