While ski Instructors are motivated by a love for skiing, they are not immune to this mid-season illness. For a variety of reasons ski instructors seem to reach an all-time low around the first of February.
The causes for this down tone are many and different depending on the different employee needs. But the ski school director should ask the following questions: What’s my attitude at this time of the year? Am I sensitive to the needs of my instructors? Have I rewarded those who have performed above and beyond the call of duty? Have I provided incentives for those instructors who have improved their value to the ski school? Have I added to the fraternal environment?
These problems are controllable by the ski school director. Only dissatisfactions voiced by ski instructors are: lack of rotation in teaching different classes, too much or too little work delegated in an unequal way, lack of recognition for innovative ideas and proposals, lack of a positive learning environment for those who strive to improve their skills, lack of unity among the staff because there is no leadership organizing activities and events that would complement the needs of instructors.
Now the cure or at least a prescription that may prevent some of the symptoms. The school directors interviewed made the following suggestions:
- Regularly scheduled ski school functions, parties and meetings provide an opportunity to keep moral high. A committee within your school should be organized to plan activities and parties. The involvement of staff in planning will also be beneficial for those organizing the events.
- On-going educational programs and clinics enable the instructors to improve their skills. Bringing in outside guests contributes enthusiasm and new ideas.
- Racing is red hot and no other activity has so many benefits for instructor’s motivation and skill development. An instructor racing program that offers rewards (monetary or other) also keeps motivation high.
- “Instructor of the week” programs have been successful if the criteria are objective and full. The instructors themselves should be involved in the selection process thus helping to keep the above framework.
- Finally, the opportunity for increased financial renumeration is always a terrific motivator.
There is no miracle cure for mid-season burnt out attitudes that exist during the middle of the season. But managers can focus on the needs of staff to inspire enthusiasm. In addition programs that the staff may be turned on to can provide releases from hectic employee schedules. Finally, ski school directors can develop an enthusiastic attitude that becomes contagious—knocking out all other germs.
