Three ways to transform your relationship to problems at your dance studio
"The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." ~Theodore Rubin
This quote about problems may seem paradoxical. But it is some of the best advice for us as dance studio owners and teachers. You might think that a successful season is one in which there are no difficult people to deal with or upset students and parents. Maybe you are always hoping for smooth sailing and then get incredibly disappointed by the fact that this is an impossible notion.
Here are three ways you can transform your relationships to problems, call it drama, chaos, whatever! The goal is for you to embrace every problem as an opportunity to grow.
#1. Accept that not everyone is going to like you
I am first to admit this has been one of the hardest truths of life and business to learn. But the fact is, when you are playing big and having success there will always be critics, naysayers, haters, or doubters. More importantly, when you are running a successful business with fundamental policies and procedures you cannot make everyone happy, nor can you go back in time and fix it for everyone.
Whether it is the parents that think they could set better choreography on your dance teams to the student who should have been picked for the solo to the complaints over the recital ticket prices or choice of costumes. Your customers and just about everyone will have an opinion about everything and you can count on it! Don't let this stop you from moving forward with enthusiasm.
#2. Be the positive police for your studio culture
Studio culture doesn't happen. It is created. It takes work and vigilance. Be the enforcer of positivity! Even when you want to tell someone how you really feel or let them know that they have no clue what it takes to run this business… take deep breaths!
Go out there in your waiting rooms and on social media and thank and reward the positive behaviors you want to foster. Focus in on the many who make your studio great. It's easy to get caught up in managing the 'unhappy' people that you don't spend anytime with the ones who love what you're doing.
It is important, and healthy for your mind, to take time everyday to read at least one positive email or speak with a happy parent or ask a teacher to share with you what is going great in their classes. Focus on the positive; it will give you strength to work through the challenges.
#3. It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters
Running a dance studio isn't easy. It takes something. Strength of spirit. Courage to work through situations that seem impossible. Willingness to face reality and assess situations with maturity. These are just a few of the ways to get up every day and run your dance studio - or said another way - problem solve.
You cannot control others behavior or reactions, but you definitely can choose yours. As Epictetus said so long ago, "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." People will be attracted to your studio because of the experience you create for them.
Great news, the problem isn't that you have problems! It's actually a gift and blessing that you have problems to solve. You are putting something at stake. You stand for something. You're creating art. There are people's lives you are impacting. Don't let the drama or pettiness or fear from other people stop you from being your best.
Keep doing your beautiful, generous, inspiring work! Thank you for all that you do for dance.
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Thank you for a great webinar! It's good to know that we're all feeling the same, no matter where we are in the world. Thanks so much x I cannot tell you enough how good it feels to connect with someone who's willing to look at the truth of the situation with humor and cautious optimism... I definitely needed a lot of that advice, but more important, I needed to hear it from two badass, empowered women. Thank you, the webinar has definitely given me some motivation to put some work and time in to plan our new normal in the studio. Thank you so much for today. Lots of great ideas. Thank you!
