New Year: Check Your Studio Policies

It’s a New Year. It’s likely time to start thinking about your policies.

• Do they need an update?
• Has your attendance policy been working for you?
• Do you feel you are compensated enough?
• Is anything making you feel disrespected?

Well now is the time to fix it. 

I always think of these things at the end of the year. It’s a good time to think back and decide what works and what doesn’t work.

Take a look at your studio policy and make some tweaks. If you don’t have a policy… well now is the time to make one!

You need a policy for yourself and your students. It’s very important. It makes your rules tangible. It’s one thing to tell a parent, “If you cancel, you will not get a refund, but an opportunity to make up the class.” and another thing to have it written down. When it’s written down and you resend it each new year, they remember that you mean what you say, so don’t act surprised when this rule gets enforced 🙂

 

Think about everything. Your policy should include…

• attendance
• payment policies
• payment methods
• behavior and practice expectations

Do you have problems with behavior? Maybe it’s time to set up a structured policy on how to deal with this. I know some teachers have a 3 strikes rule where they note each time a student behaves inappropriately, and after 3 warnings they get the boot. I don’t have a policy like this, but sometimes I think I should…

So in between your lessons, practicing, and just regular life, take a few moments for yourself to decided what you want for the new year in your business.

It is well worth the time and effort.

Good luck and Happy New Year