Giving Constructive Criticism to Enthusiasts and Fellow Instructors

Criticism is never an easy thing to hear—or give. But as a Spinning® instructor, you are obligated to teach and encourage your students to be the best athletes they can be. For those instructors who aren’t comfortable offering advice or criticism, here are some steps and pointers to make the process easier.

• Make sure you know what you’re talking about. As a certified instructor, you have the tools to talk about proper setup, form, heart rate and more. If there is a topic you’re not sure about, use the Instructor Resources provided at spinning.com to get it straight.
• Use your experience as a guide. If I see someone with bad form, I’ll say, “I took a class about avoiding injuries in Spinning class and the Master Instructor said to always keep your knees straight ahead,” or “I’ve been an instructor for 11 years and I know that leaning on the handlebars is not safe.”
• Focus on the positive and build them up. You can always find something positive to say; for example, “You have a great pedal stroke.” 
• Be pleasant. Sounds obvious, but it’s much easier to take advice when someone is smiling.
• Make your criticism clear and back it up. “Pedaling really fast without resistance is not safe because it can hurt your knees. Think about it. When you use resistance it engages your muscles, not your joints.”
• Don’t make a scene or single out someone. Try to be strong but discreet. Talk before or after class if you have a major concern with a certain individual.
• Ask questions and listen. Maybe someone has a medical issue or is overly tired, which could explain why they are not performing well in class. “How are you feeling today? I’ve noticed you’re not using resistance.” Make sure you listen and do not accuse.
• Use encouragement. “But I always ride like this,” was the response I got when I tried to adjust a student’s too-low bike setup. I optimistically asked her to just give it a try in the position I thought would fit her better. Later, she thanked me for fixing her form.

Offering criticism to a student can be tough enough, but what do you do when you come across a fellow instructor practicing contraindications? Here’s what some Spinning Master Instructors had to say: