K.I.S.S.
[firstname] do you struggle with keeping your participants focused on the task at hand? Are you becoming more and more frustrated because it seems impossible to get your riders to understand and comply with your instructions? Maybe you simply have had enough of listening to the chit chatter and would like to learn how to focus your participants during your classes. If so, this article is for you.
The best way to eliminate one behavior (or thought) is to replace it with something else. You probably know (after endless attempts) that telling your participants to “stop talking and focus” is not working. There are two reasons why this won”™t work: 1) Even though you add the word “stop” in front of “talking”, your mind, and the minds of your participants, are still centered on the act of talking. 2) The word “focus” is vague and general. In fact, your riders are already focused; they are simply not focused on anything productive to help improve their training and performance in your class.
How about when you deliver instructions to your participants? Do you commonly use 30 to 60 seconds and a few sentences to convey your instructions and correct technical errors? This method does not produce the best results because it is too difficult for your participants to select the key points and make the mind-body connection.
To improve your communication skills so that your participants concentrate on your class and on their performance, use the following principle:
KISS: Keep It Simple and Specific
Keeping It Simple and Specific requires that you take a moment to identify attentional cues for each exercise or section of your profile. Believe me, there is a big difference between asking your clients to focus on their pedal stroke and asking them to pull back with the foot (one example of an attentional cue). The latter of the two instructions is a simple concept for your participants to think about during their ride. It is also specific in that it directs their attention to one body part (i.e. foot) and one movement (i.e. pull back).
Call to Action
Make a list of the most common technical or tactical instructions you ask your participants to perform. Be proactive and choose a simple and specific attentional cue for each instruction. Each attentional cue should be between one and five words. In class, challenge yourself to implement your attentional cues. You”™ll be amazed how easy it is hold your participants attention in class and everyone will have more fun and achieve higher results.
Believe and Achieve,
Haley Perlus, Ph.D.
Visit http://DrHaleyPerlus.com and register to receive Dr. Haley”™s FREE Mental Toughness Articles for sport and fitness.
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Originally posted 2009-09-13 19:41:19.
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Thanks Haley,
This is good and it has me thinking about how we describe intensity’s in class; % of max, threshold, RPE, talk tests, etc. I think many of us, and our students, would benefit from applying your KISS principle here.
I need to talk with Jennifer about standardizing the language we use and encourage ICI/PRO members to consider doing the same.
Haley,
I’ve found that selecting music with definitive teaching moments is incredibly effective as a communication tool. For example, during a quiet period or lull in the song (common in many trance/house mixes) use that moment to vocalize instruction with lots of expression. When the beat returns, let the class disappear in the music to accomplish their training goal. When a teacher talks too much, students often turn off completely and hear nothing. Remember the teacher in the old Charlie Brown cartoon? Wha-whaaaa-wha-whaaaa-wha-whaaaaaaaaa…..A good instructor knows when to talk and when to stay quiet.
I agree with your comments Barbara. Thank you for adding to my KISS principle: Choose Your Moments! May I also add…..during those moments when you provide constructive feedback to individual participants (i.e. while you are walking the room), be specific and simplify your instructions. The KISS principle is intended to be used for every component of class: before class, during class, and after class.
Haley:
I really enjoyed reading your KISS article, it certainly makes a lot of sense. Would you be so kind to provide one more example of a specific attentional cue? I am compiling a list of my current cues/instructions and kind of stuck.
Thanks a bunch!
Hi Kathryn,
Another attentional cue would be “pull back on pedals”. I know many instructors think about pulling up on the pedals, but Jennifer Sage taught me that when you pull back on the pedals you initiate the movement earlier and the movement is more complete.
You should also know that I just created a presentation on communication effectiveness and I review the KISS principle in detail (and with examples). The presentation will be available at ICI in the new year. Stay tuned for more details.
Thank you and I look forward to your presentation. : )