Do you ever find yourself at the crossroads of change? Recently (yesterday) after chatting with the boss at the Gym I teach spinning. I discovered that there needs to be a change in my teaching approach and style. She didn't say I needed to, but in an effort to make things more consistent at our gym I have decided that it is the best thing for me to do....
Although I LOVE constructive criticism (mainly because I can't change something if I don't know there is something to change) there is that moment(or longer) when you feel a little exposed and unsure of yourself.
Suddenly you are re-evaluating all of the minor imperfections in the category that need some improvement. You try to reach out for something to justify or embrace the mentality behind the previous choice/technique of teaching.
In looking for ideas I threw my input and questions to a cycling forum...good/bad choice. Now it seems the others find me inexperienced and also critiquing my previous teaching methods...after all they don't really know the whole picture of my teaching...I only gave them the piece I'm working on...they dont see the part where my classes seem to love what I give them and seem to enjoy my teaching styles.
So, basically I threw myself to the dogs in an effort to find ideas and now find myself regretting exposing my weakness to the masses...So why do you ask would I further expose myself to the blog world?
I suppose it is my way of reaching out and putting on paper (so to speak) how hard it is to make a change for good while trying hold on to the pieces I felt were strong and secure.
-Heres one for self improvement!
I'll let you know how it goes...I do like improving and re-inventing myself to become something more...it's just a bit uncomfortable!
8 comments:
I, in a way, know how you feel. In swimming, I feel like my stroke is being torn apart and put back together again in a new way. It hurts, sometimes it's very annoying, but in the end, I think we emerge a little better.
Groan. I hate that exposed, vulnerable feeling. We must chat.
The only way we grow is to be uncomfortabe-you know, getting out of the comfort zone. As you grow older you find it harder to get out of the comfort zone and expanding yourself. I haven't scrubbed on a c sect for 20 years because I am so scarred. The opportunity to scrub doesn't come up enough because we have techs to scrub then you find yourself unsure when there is the time to scrub. As a matter of fact I've pretty much stayed in the same comfort zone for 29 years working in L&D! Some comfort zones are good to stay in like marriage
i can empathize with that feeling- i get picked apart weekly in supervision! and student evals are always fun. the only advice i've got is to keep in mind what you know about your style and how students respond- that is most helpful- and then take what you can from other people's input. i hate that uncomfortable feeling- it's like being naked in a room full of strangers...not that i have ever experienced that, but i imagine that's what it would be like. :)
Yeah, I think this might have a significant NBD element to it. You work with people on bikes going nowhere to get their heart rates up, work their muscles and smile. I have the impression that you do all of the above. Any suggested changes are probably driven by someone else thinking "their way" is better. I'm not sure there would be any good science out there to support that. Your results support your methods. People attend, work out and smile. Sounds like a good day to me.
Thanks for all of the support! That is really why I posted this post...I needed my support group to tell me that it is NBD!! Thanks OW
yeah, I think you're cool just because you're teaching the class! you go, girl!
That a cute bummer of a picture!
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