As a pole dance instructor, I’ve heard countless times from my students that they feel they’re not making progress. Initially, I used to take this comment personally because, as a teacher, my goal is to help my students excel. However, I’ve learned that this is an opportunity for an honest conversation.
Before providing feedback, I make sure that the student is genuinely seeking it and not just looking for sympathy. Once I’m confident that they want to improve, I offer recommendations on areas where they can work on. I try to focus on solutions rather than dwelling on the complaint itself.
It’s worth noting that I’ve never seen a student who complained about their progress not improving. Even if progress may not be visible to them, as an instructor, I can see how far they’ve come. I remind them of their journey and how much they’ve achieved, which can help them gain perspective and motivate them to keep going.
Overall, the “not making progress” comment can be uncomfortable, but it’s an opportunity to have an honest conversation and help the student move forward. As instructors, it’s our job to guide and encourage our students, and this is just one of the ways we can do that.