Improving Your Dojo One Step at a Time

By Skip Chapman, Jersey Shore Aikikai
info@aikidoinstructors.com

Life is about setting goals. We strive to achieve these goals; however, many times we are unsure of how to begin. Numerous dojo owners face the same challenge. The goals are clear: to increase student body, to keep more students, and to spread aikido. The question is "How do I reach these goals?" The transition from a concept to a system can be a long one if you do not have a clear plan. Advice you hear often from Aikido Instructors Organization is that continuing education is imperative towards achieving your goals. Many professions already mandate continuing education, such as physical therapists, accountants and teachers. Continuing education, whether mandated by law or done independently, allows individuals to gather new ideas that can help one reach personal and business goals.

For a dojo owner, there are various sources for martial art business consulting, such as Aikido Instructors Organization. Through AIO, members learn different methods and strategies to implement in their dojos. To meet their goals, however, effort is still required. An idea is only successful if it completes the trip from a concept to a working system. So let me lay out a clear roadmap to help you achieve your goals, and to break the procrastination that keeps so many dojos from being prosperous and thriving.

Step 1: Choose your system. The first place to start is by selecting one idea or system that strikes a nerve with you personally. It should be one that you support 100 percent and honestly believe you will complete.

Step 2: Research your system. Whatever the idea is, you will need to gather as much information about the topic as possible. AIO has researched each of its systems and implemented them in an aikido dojo which, as an AIO member, will decrease your need to spend significant time on this step. By not having enough information to implement your system, even the best idea can fail.

Step 3: Analyze the system. Now that you have the information you need, decide if you think any part of the system requires some customization for your dojo. Maybe you would like to implement a specific referral program, however, the program is geared towards children and you offer adult only classes. You will need to customize the system to suit your adult oriented dojo during this step.

Step 4: Plan on how to implement the system. Write down clear steps that are simple and easy to follow. Give yourself a timeframe for completion and stick to it. Caution! This step is often where many great ideas stall and never get started again. Over analyzing a plan can lead you into analysis paralysis, as it is often easier to analyze the plan than to implement it. Be honest with yourself and resist the excuses that accompany change. Remember that any change can be difficult, but change can also be what separates a failing dojo from a successful one.

Step 5: Communicate with your staff and volunteers. Whenever you make a change that affects your student body, clear and positive communication is critical. Keeping your staff and volunteers involved will assist you in implementing the system. Effective communication will also keep the students informed of the positive changes and eliminate any fears the students may have regarding the change. With that said, too much communication can sabotage the change before it happens. Some dojocho feel the need to poll the students for their opinion about every decision because they are afraid of change. Unless the dojo is owned by its members, decisions should be made by the owner(s). Students may express their opinion, but, when it comes down to it, students want the head of their dojo to take the wheel when business changes need to be made.

Step 6: Track the success of the system. Many business owners do not keep true statistics regarding implemented programs. Because of this, many dojocho inaccurately estimate their successes and failures. Tracking your programs enables you to make adjustments to the program for maximum results. Some systems will work perfectly upon your first attempt; others will need little changes to increase the level of success. You may even wish, after analyzing your results, to scrap a system all together. Without keeping data, you will never know what system is helping you meet your goals.

Making your ideas come to life is more than wishing it to happen. Success comes from taking the time to implement your ideas, and then allowing the ideas to evolve with the needs of your dojo. Stop procrastinating. Attack an idea, make it your own, and start implementing your next system today!