Hiring from within

Everyone knows that you should “grow your own” staff and instructors but often we forget the lessons that are plainly obvious. This is certainly a rule that can be broken from time to time but let me again remind you what you already know:

1. Martial artists as employees tend to be very “self-righteous:”
   
   Doing anything just to make money “off the students” is bad and;
   
   
   2. They never get paid enough and;
      
   3. They don't want anything to do with sales or marketing – only teaching what they want to teach – to students they feel like teaching.
      
2. Unfortunately martial arts is very much like a “cult”. Whoever “brainwashed” someone first about what the “ True Way ” is – often owns their heart and soul forever.
   
3. As a teacher – often you can do no wrong to a dedicated student.
   
4. As an employer – often you can do nothing right to a mediocre employee.

Take some of these tendencies and exacerbate them with non-home grown martial artists and you can easily triple your headaches and cut your results in half.

Remember a few obvious truths:

1. If someone failed once already running their own school – why should working for you be any different? Remember – business owners have LOTS of reasons to be much more self motivated than anyone's employee.
   
   (If you take a school operator – and, have a position where they can just teach – if that is something they are really strong at – and, not have to market or sell then it might work. But failed school operators usually make failed employees. I hate to admit that I've made this mistake a couple of times too many – just a slow learner on some things I guess.)
   
2. If someone holds allegiance to another instructor or style in their heart – then their true feelings will show in all student and staff interactions. Do you want students excited about the old (read real) instructor and their old (read true) style – or do you want your students excited about you and your school.

  How do you grow your own?

This is a huge subject. Better covered in greater detail.

A few pointers:

1. Look for potential future employees in the introductory classes you teach.
   
2. Have GREAT retention. If no one gets to Black Belt – there aren't many Black Belts to hire.
   
3. Have a huge SWAT (assistant instructor) team and special leadership training classes.
   
4. Take promising candidates “under your wing” personally – and, guide them to:
   1. increasing leadership;
   2. accelerated progress;
   3. a winning personal appearance;
   4. escalating responsibility;
   5. a vision of a career in the martial arts.
      
5. Have a goal oriented career path:
   1. Master Club (or Black Belt Club;)
   2. Assistant Instructor;
   3. Instructor;
   4. Head Instructor;
   5. Program Director;
   6. Branch Manager;
   7. School Owner.
      
6. For teenagers:
1. Create a career prospect while paying comparable or slightly better than their other opportunities.
   
7. For adults:
   1. •  Consider hiring at early stages of their training for program director or receptionist roles;
   2. Create a career vision that is exciting;
   3. Don't transition volunteers into paid employees unless it is into full time salaried / incentives position
   4. Do keep the door open for them to open their own school with your help – when and if they want to and are ready