Episode 937 - Developing a Leadership Team
In this episode, Andrew is joined by Craig Wharem as they discuss how to develop a leadership team for your school and thoughts on keeping it successful.
Developing a Leadership Team - Episode 937
SUMMARY
In this episode, Andrew Adams and Craig Wharem discuss the importance of developing a leadership team in martial arts schools. They emphasize the need for school owners to identify potential leaders early on and provide them with opportunities to grow and contribute. They also stress the importance of clear communication and setting expectations for the leadership team. Regular private meetings and outside training can help improve teaching skills and enhance the team's effectiveness. For students who want to become leaders, they recommend expressing their interest to the instructor and taking initiative to help out in various ways.
TAKEAWAYS
* Identify potential leaders early on and provide them with opportunities to grow and contribute
* Clear communication and setting expectations are crucial for a successful leadership team
* Regular private meetings and outside training can help improve teaching skills
* Students who want to become leaders should express their interest to the instructor and take initiative to help out
* Developing a leadership team is essential for the long-term success of martial arts schools
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Overview
02:58 The Need for a Leadership Team in Martial Arts Schools
06:15 Identifying Potential Leaders
11:22 Clear Communication and Expectations
13:19 Defining Roles and Responsibilities
22:50 Becoming a Leader in Your Martial Arts School
30:15 Conclusion and Call to Action
After listening to the episode, it would be exciting for us to know your thoughts about it.
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Show Transcript
Andrew Adams (00:00.065)
And welcome. You are watching or listening to Whistlekick Martial Arts Radio. I am your oft co -host, Andrew Adams, but today I'm not joined by regular host Jeremy Lesniak. I'm joined by our great friend of the show, Craig Wareham. Craig, how are you doing today?
No, this is great. I mean,
Craig Wharem (01:01.83)
I'm awesome, thanks for having me. I feel like I'm a semi -regular guest appearance.
Andrew Adams (01:06.177)
Yeah, you're up there in terms of having been on the show the most number of times outside of Jeremy and I.
Craig Wharem (01:17.414)
I have to be careful though, Victor's catching up to me.
Andrew Adams (01:17.505)
He is definitely is catching up to you. So everybody listening and watching, thanks for being here. We appreciate it. I want to make sure to let you know that you can head on over to whistlekickmarshallarchradio .com and find out all the information that you might want about this episode and others. And if you hear a dog running around the background, that's because we have a dog running around the background.
So Whistlekick Martial Arts Radio, you'll find everything about this episode and every other episode. You'll find transcripts, you may find extra photos of our guests and whatnot. And whistlekick .com is where you can go to find everything else that we do, anything that we sell, whether it's shirts like the one I'm wearing now, although you can't buy this one, this is free training day 2022. This is an old shirt. Yeah. Or you could buy a training program or...
Craig Wharem (02:06.278)
I have two of those.
Andrew Adams (02:09.249)
Purchase any of the many books that we have published as well And find out information on all the events that we do or you can think about applying for Whistlekick Alliance and being a part of that So head on over to Whistlekick .com to find all that stuff And the other thing you can do to help us out is join our patreon P -A -T -R -E -O -N slash Whistlekick For as little as two dollars a month two dollars less than a cup of coffee. You can help out the show
by making sure that it continues to get made. And the last thing you can do to help us out, tell a friend. Listen to this episode, enjoy it, and tell a friend about it. So Craig, we are here to talk about developing a leadership team. And you brought this topic to me. And so this is something I know that you're passionate about. What does that mean?
Craig Wharem (02:57.286)
yeah.
Craig Wharem (03:05.382)
Well, I mean, we've done work. We've talked about it a bunch on the show about MADC and the, you know, the martial arts teacher training certification and stuff. And one of the cool things about that program is it's given me the opportunity to talk to so many school owners and kind of hear their pain points, right? Like what is a struggle that a school owner may have or an instructor may have? And almost always the answer is I wish I had more help.
I wish I had more people. I wish, you know, it's really hard to do the one person show kind of thing. Answer the phones, teach the class, talk to the parent, deal with the crying kid. And at the same time, don't forget to blink and breathe. Right? Like, so, you know, you have a lot of experience in teaching and developing teachers. I mean, you, you're around new teachers all the time.
And so am I. So I thought maybe it'd be a cool thing. Maybe there'd be something in there for people, you know, something to think about, something to take away. And I think my first tip, my first advice that I often give is it's never too early to start looking.
Andrew Adams (04:14.817)
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. You know, I've been thinking about this because you and I talked about recording this episode a week or so ago, and so I've been thinking about it. When Jeremy and I, a little peek behind the curtains, when Jeremy and I record stuff, often it's we sit down and say, all right, what are we going to record about today? And then we talk about it. We just do it right then and there. So we don't often get a chance to noodle on the topic a whole lot.
Sometimes you do, but not a lot. And so I've had a week to think about this. And the thing that I kept coming back to is I can't think of another hobby or lifestyle thing that people do where not always, but often once a person hits a certain time in their training or whatever, like let's pick a sport, basketball. So I mean, kids start playing basketball.
They get their, they shoot, they make their thousandth point. They've made 1000 points. Awesome. Now you're a coach. Now you have to coach people because you're obviously really good. I mean, you've, you've made a thousand baskets, you know, or you've done a thousand points. Like you clearly must be ready to be a coach, but there are so many schools that I know of that. Boom. Here's your black belt test. Here's your black belt. Okay. Now you're going to help teach class now.
That doesn't happen in any other sport or lifestyle that I can think of. And I think that is very, very bizarre.
Craig Wharem (05:56.71)
I think it's true, right? Like I can't think of another thing either where that happens. Where all of a sudden it's like, now you're doing this and you're teaching because you've hit X proficiency. And it's one of my philosophies has always been, right? Just because you're a black belt doesn't mean that you're a teacher. It's a whole different skill set. And so for me, as I look at teams and
Andrew Adams (06:14.977)
Mm -hmm.
Yep.
Craig Wharem (06:26.918)
you know, in my schools, when I'm trying to identify people who I think could could step into a leadership role, the belt around their waist is the last last thing I look at. You know, you, you can't teach a passion for something it's it's it becomes it's them they have to foster that on their own. And I think we both can agree without teaching.
or without passion, it's really hard to teach or lead in a way that makes people want to follow you.
Andrew Adams (06:57.281)
Yep, yep, no, that's very, very true. Yeah. And so I was gonna say, your first point of it's never too early to start looking for a person that you can help mentor into becoming a leader in your organization. And let's face it, we're talking martial arts school, but it could be in anything really, you know. It's never too early to start that process.
Craig Wharem (07:03.014)
You know, but... Go ahead.
Craig Wharem (07:26.054)
Right. And never count people out. You'd be surprised, I think, at the people who maybe they want to be a part of it in some way, and they don't know how to approach and ask, or they don't know how to, they don't know where they would fit. Because oftentimes, and there's been, I think, countless episodes at this point on students inherently at first put instructors on a pedestal, right? We, it's just what happens. And,
Andrew Adams (07:35.841)
Mm hmm.
Andrew Adams (07:46.785)
Unfortunately.
Craig Wharem (07:53.35)
I think that that's a human trait is it's like, well, I want to be like that person. And then you get into the training for a while. And if you have an instructor who's really fostering you along the way, you recognize that they're just on their, the instructor's on their own journey too, right? But sometimes it's such a big wide range that people don't recognize where they could fit in. Right? I remember very vividly my first day helping out. I was a green belt at my school.
Andrew Adams (07:55.425)
Mm -hmm.
Craig Wharem (08:22.246)
I had been training for a couple years at my school green belts, like a middle of the road level, you know, you're about halfway to your black belt. And I just showed up early to class one day. I had probably one of the worst class attendances at the time. Like I didn't, I was a once a week maybe, right? I was kind of starting to check out because I had reached an age where I discovered that.
Andrew Adams (08:36.577)
Yep.
Craig Wharem (08:49.286)
girls existed and that they weren't always in the karate school. Right? And so I started to kind of check out from martial arts. But I showed up early because my mom had to drop me off early. I got there and my instructor at the time said, hey, you're here early. Why don't you go help the instructor on the floor? Like go out and just see if he needs a hand. So I said, okay. So I bowed on the mat, I walked out.
And then after that I was hooked, right? But literally all they had me do the first day was learn every kid's name. That was it. Like I didn't teach, I didn't coach, I didn't fix anything, I didn't compliment them. It was literally just try to remember their names. And then after that I wanted to help every class I could. But I think the most important part of that story is I wasn't frequently attending at the time. I wasn't what you'd call passionate about martial arts. And I was probably not who you'd identify as.
Andrew Adams (09:28.897)
Yeah.
Andrew Adams (09:41.537)
Mm -hmm.
Craig Wharem (09:48.581)
That's the person that should teach someday.
Andrew Adams (09:48.705)
That's a good observation that it's, you know, sometimes that passion is there dormant and you don't know it's even there, right? Until someone gives you the opportunity to show it, right?
Craig Wharem (10:04.934)
Right, right. And I think that that's one of the most important things is never assume that people want to teach, but also don't assume that they don't want to teach. You're not going to know until you provide an opportunity.
Andrew Adams (10:11.233)
Mm -hmm.
Andrew Adams (10:17.249)
Yeah, I actually know of a black belt who tested with me and got their black belt and they were kind of nervous about getting the black belt and it had nothing to do with the test itself. Like they were ready. It was that they knew that once they get their black belt, they're going to be expected to be quote in charge during class at times. And this is a person who in every aspect of their life.
was in charge of everything. And they came to karate and enjoyed not being in charge, right? And all of a sudden they're like, no, like I'm gonna be testing for my shodan and I'm gonna be expected to be in charge again. And this is my release from that. This is where I get to not be in charge. So not everybody is gonna want to be a leader or have any sort of leadership position in your school, whether it's officially teaching or.
helping lead stuff.
Craig Wharem (11:21.574)
Right, right. And there's no problem with, you know, starting out just by saying, Hey, you know what, let's take this orange belt and they're going to work with a white belt today. And then it pre -frame it with the orange belt. Say, Hey, look, you know what? You're the higher belt today. I'm not looking for you to be the boss. I'm looking for you to be a leader, leaders show. They don't tell. And I'm looking for, and then what I'll do is do out the class. I've got one eye on that group.
but I'm specifically watching how the orange belt interacts with the white belt.
Andrew Adams (11:49.953)
I think that's a great point, Craig. And something Jeremy and I have talked about all the time, that you don't have to be a black belt to be a teacher, to be teaching or helping lead or presenting stuff in your school or in your class. If you know something that someone below you doesn't know, if you can pass on that knowledge, that's a good thing. It doesn't matter what rank you are.
Craig Wharem (13:14.406)
Right. Right.
So I think naturally the next step, because I feel like we hit the first part, right? Like open it up and identify it everywhere. But I think the second part in developing a team is whoever's going to lead the team, whoever's building this thing has to have a clear understanding and idea of what they want people to do.
Right? Like the, cause the next step of this, right? If, if you know, you're opening Andrew's karate school, right? LLC trademark. Okay. If you, if you're opening that and then you go, Hey, I need Craig, Mark, Victor, you guys are going to be teaching with me and you give us no direction. Then we're just going to stand there.
Andrew Adams (13:57.281)
Exactly. There has to be good. Yeah, there has to be open, clear communication. I talked, I, Jeremy and I have talked about this at length on episodes that the, the, the instruction and direction has to come from the top down. Those people that you were expecting to lead your team, you know, be on your leadership team. They have to be on the same page as you. If you don't give them a book at all, they're going to start writing their own book.
And if they start writing their own book, it might not be the book you want them to be writing. So you have to hand them a book. And I'm talking a metaphysical book, everybody. I'm not talking about you have to write a book, but you have to get them on the same page and expect them to give them the expectations that you have of them for sure.
Craig Wharem (14:52.454)
And have it clearly defined, you know, we all have no problem creating a curriculum for, I want you to know X, Y, and Z for this color belt. Well, for you to get your teaching levels with me anyway, at my school, the way it works is there's five levels of teacher. There's level one, the level one person's high fiving kids and helping tie their belt. That's it. That's all you're doing. You're not coaching. Maybe you're getting us equipment. The level two people,
Andrew Adams (15:00.289)
Yep, yep.
Craig Wharem (15:20.838)
They're coaching small groups only. They're allowed to work up to three people by themselves. Then the third level, now they're working in the full group. But there's curriculum, there's stuff they have to follow and meet every step of the way. And it goes up to level five. But what happens is when you have it structured that way, there's a natural progression. Well, now the level three instructors can delegate to level two and level one. And it becomes a machine where...
Andrew Adams (15:46.241)
Mm -hmm.
Craig Wharem (15:50.438)
you don't have to communicate with each other because everyone knows their job.
Andrew Adams (15:51.425)
Yeah, exactly. And here's the reality for people listening. If you run a martial arts school, you need, and I'm hoping Jeremy would be okay with me saying this. We on the show don't often tell people things they really need to do or need not to do. But I think Jeremy would agree with me on this one. If you run a school, you need someone that can take a class if you're not there.
Because the only other option is you close your school for the day. Because let's face it, everybody gets sick. Even if you're someone who doesn't go on vacation and doesn't leave, you're totally devoted to your school, which I applaud. That's awesome. That's great. But people get sick and you're not expected to go in and teach if you're, you know, deathly sick or you're ill or whatever. And so your two options are you have someone teach a class for you. Well,
Craig Wharem (16:24.582)
Yes.
Andrew Adams (16:51.553)
This is what we're talking about right now, essentially. Whether your leadership team is one person, because maybe you're a really small school, or your leadership team is seven, eight, nine, 10 people, you have to have someone that can take over teaching classes if you can't be there.
Craig Wharem (17:14.63)
Absolutely. What if you hurt your leg, right? Or something like that and you're unable to be there. There needs to be something in place for that. And the worst time to put that in place is when you're going through whatever it is you're going through where you need someone. You know...
Andrew Adams (17:27.361)
Exactly. So they should develop a leadership team.
Craig Wharem (17:36.038)
There you go. There you go. And don't forget that you're on the team too, right? Like that's one of the most important aspects is people go, this team and now I've got to manage another team. Well, no, you're on this team. Ultimately, the team's there to help you. And, you know, I say all the time, martial arts is one generation away from extinction, always. It's always one generation away. All.
Andrew Adams (17:39.793)
yeah.
Andrew Adams (17:47.521)
Mm -hmm.
Yeah.
Craig Wharem (18:02.406)
All it takes is all of us right now who are the people who are teaching and running schools to do a bad job. No one wants to do this anymore. Martial arts goes away. And so through developing this team, you're also potentially identifying people who may want to run a school someday.
Andrew Adams (18:06.881)
Yep. Yep.
Andrew Adams (18:17.249)
Yeah.
Craig Wharem (18:21.734)
you know, who wants to stay involved and give back into something that we believe in. I'm assuming if you're listening or watching, you're pretty passionate about martial arts in one facet or another, and you want to see it continue on. And so there's all sorts of reasons to do it. Conversely, one reason not to do it is simply you might not have a lot of time.
Andrew Adams (18:32.609)
Mm -hmm.
Andrew Adams (18:45.281)
Sure. Yep. And here's the reality. Teaching, and this is some people listening might get their hackles raised at this, teaching is not something that people inherently know how to do. It's not. It is a skill that is learned. That's why when you go to high school or you go to middle school or elementary school, the people teaching there, they're not dragging off the street, hey, you want to come teach? No.
Craig Wharem (18:49.638)
Right?
Andrew Adams (19:12.673)
They go to school, they go to college, they get a degree on how to teach. I'm sorry, martial arts is not any different. It's different in the sense of you don't go to school and get a formal education and get a degree, but it is still a skill that must be learned and people are not just automatically good teachers. And so there are some people that are...
phenomenal at what they do. And I'm thinking, I come from the drumming world, I know some incredible drummers. Some of, in fact, I'm thinking of a particular person that's one of, was one of the best drummers in the world. I went to a seminar that they did and it was not very good. They were not a good teacher, but they were a phenomenal doer. And there are definitely, and I bet everybody listening can think of people that they know that are phenomenal at martial arts.
but are not great at teaching. And so if you are running a school, you can't just expect this leadership team to just materialize it, materialize and be there. You have to develop it. And that's what this, this is kind of what we're talking about, you know? So how do we get there? Yeah. You know, we've already said you can start early, right? Don't discount anybody. You know, there may be people you don't think would be good at it, but don't just count them out because of that. You never know.
Where do we go next?
Craig Wharem (20:45.446)
Once you start to identify people and then you have your set structure and boundary, right? Like, cause that's the next step is what are they going to be responsible for? What are they going to do? What is your vision? You know, I've talked to a handful of instructors who run schools who I need all these people and they bring in all these people and the instructor still does all the work because they don't know what they want the people to do or they don't trust that the job is going to get done the way they want. Well, you've got to have a little leap of faith. So honestly,
watching for who you'd put in the team is a precursor. That's already, that already should be happening every class. But, but really the first step is defining and creating a vision. What do you want them to do? What do you want them to get out of this? Some schools, their leadership team is responsible for making sure the facility is clean and everything's dusted and everything's organized. Some people, their leadership team is responsible for writing out postcards and making phone calls to students and checking in.
You know, you just have to figure out where do I need the most assistance? And then from there, you develop it and then you start to reach out and recognize people for it and say, I think that this would be a good fit for you. And I'd like to try it. I'd like to teach you how to do this leadership thing, whatever this may be. You know, and there are two schools of thought. So maybe sometime, Andrew.
Andrew Adams (22:03.777)
Yeah.
Andrew Adams (22:09.953)
Hahaha.
Craig Wharem (22:13.478)
on this, whether or not you, you as a school in a charge for it or don't charge for it. That's not the scope today that that could be a different, a whole different thing. but these, it's important to just get the ball rolling first, define what the victory looks like, then define the team you need to make that victory happen. Because if you need people to write postcards, get on the phone to people to help you keep people engaged, well, you're probably not looking at the one who does the prettiest.
Andrew Adams (22:30.817)
Mm -hmm.
Craig Wharem (22:43.302)
flying sidekick, maybe you'll look at the one who is the most personable.
Andrew Adams (22:44.993)
Yep, yep, exactly.
Andrew Adams (22:49.633)
Yep. And then I think something that can't be discounted is if you are going to have a leadership team, whether again, whether that team is one person or whether that team is five people, right? I think there needs to be regular and regular doesn't mean every day. Regular doesn't mean once every five years. It's up to you to determine, but regular private get togethers with that, whether that team is one person or five.
Craig Wharem (22:50.15)
Right? Different skill sets for different jobs.
Andrew Adams (23:19.649)
to discuss everything, how they're doing, how they might want to discuss with you, how you're doing as the person running the team. You know, there may be things that they have, that concerns they have that they want to bring to you. and you know, it would, I'm not saying a private training where, all right, we're all going to come and work out and sweat. Although that could be a part of it, but I think they, whoever that team is needs regular feedback from.
you again, not every day, but not every five years either, like on a somewhat regular basis.
Craig Wharem (24:00.006)
I've always found success at once a month. What we do is we do once a month, two hours. The first hour is the physical, let's sweat, let's train, let's do some stuff. And one of the things just to give people ideas, one of the things that I do in that is I'll ask the teachers, I'll say, hey, where are you feeling least confident in the curriculum to teach? And that's what we'll do. And so...
Andrew Adams (24:22.305)
Smart.
Craig Wharem (24:28.358)
you know, I identify already right off the bat, hey, where where's the pain point? And I'll tell you, the flip note, I already know what it is, because I pay attention at the belt testing, and I make notes, right? we fell short here. Okay, well, we fell short here, a because we didn't cover it enough, or B, because whoever was teaching it at the time wasn't feeling ownership enough. Right? And so you
Andrew Adams (24:49.249)
I've done it enough, yeah. Yep.
Craig Wharem (24:55.91)
The first hour is that the second hour is the okay, let's do this drill. Let's do this. Let's role play talking to a parent, right? Cause that's, that's important. People don't inherently know how to talk to somebody either in a way that you would. So role playing scripts and things like that saying, Hey, look, you know, what do you, what's the procedure if somebody comes in and wants to take a class for the first time? Well, your instructor, your leadership team should know, even if their only job is go get the go get.
Andrew Adams (24:58.013)
Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm.
Andrew Adams (25:24.293)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I would agree. And I think, I think you probably agree. Most school owners that are listening to this, most of their leadership team, the majority is going to be people to teach class. There are other, for sure. We've already brought up a lot of other things that this leadership team can, can be responsible for. If you so choose talking to people, getting new students on onboarding new students, right? You could farm that out to the leadership team as well and other things, but.
Craig Wharem (25:25.062)
the owner or whatever. They need to know.
Andrew Adams (25:53.537)
But I think the bulk of the leadership team duties that people will want is for teaching. And we've already talked about how to, you know, that being a teacher is not a skill you just have inherently. You have to learn that. And so I think you're getting together once a month. You yourself get together once a month. Whatever that is for your school, for the audience listening.
Craig Wharem (26:04.006)
Mm -hmm.
Andrew Adams (26:21.41)
I think talking about and doing things on how to be a better teacher is what, if you're looking for your leadership team to be better teachers, you need to teach them how to be better teachers.
Craig Wharem (26:38.438)
Yeah, I agree. And I recommend, I try to do this frequently myself is I bring in outside instructors whom I think are awesome. I have a good relationship with Andrew. You've worked with my leadership team before, right? You know, and, and I really try hard to bring in that outside perspective and only open it to the leadership team, right? Cause one of the things is, Hey, you know what?
Andrew Adams (26:46.945)
Mm -hmm.
Craig Wharem (27:05.638)
you're giving me extra time and you're really helping me. I'm going to do this for you. But also one of the things I always say is pay really, really close attention to how Andrew teaches or, you know, whatever it is, whoever the instructor is pay really close attention to the words they use and how they move their body. And, and I give them cues and it's usually things that I've noticed when taking a class with them, you know, when I, you know, I've been in your seminars at free training days and stuff.
And so I know there are things that you have that you could pass along without needing to even talk about it per se. But always bringing in outside influence, just like how many parents have come to you when you're teaching and said, can you please talk to Susie? You know, she's not cleaning her room. And you go out, say the exact same thing the parents are saying, and then all of a sudden the room's clean. It's the same exact thing. And I actually, I friend of the show, Mark,
Andrew Adams (27:36.833)
Mm -hmm.
Andrew Adams (27:51.553)
Yeah.
Craig Wharem (28:04.486)
Warner, I talked to him about this episode on Wednesday. And Mark is a big proponent of bringing in outside people, right? I mean, his entire teaching team and developing his leadership team revolved around coming to the MADC sessions. And it formed a thing for him where now he's got that set hierarchy. He's already two layers deep into his levels. And
Andrew Adams (28:05.089)
Mm -hmm.
Craig Wharem (28:34.182)
He's already identifying a third level of people that are really helpful.
Andrew Adams (28:38.785)
Yep. And I think, you know, I want to go back just really quick because there may be people listening or watching that don't know. They hear you say, he's done MADEC. What the heck is MADEC? So MADEC is martial art teacher training and certification. It is a program designed to help people learn how to be better teachers and something that you and Jeremy put together.
So the martial art teacher training and certification, also called MADEC, just because it's shorter and easier. So I know there's a level one that people can take various times throughout the year, different places around mostly the Northeast, because that's who you guys are. But I think if someone wanted to host a MADEC event in Florida, you guys could certainly talk about that. But I know there's level one. I know there's level two.
Craig Wharem (29:08.486)
Yeah, yep, yeah.
Craig Wharem (29:35.814)
Yeah, we'll go.
Andrew Adams (29:37.601)
And I know you guys are working on rolling out level three eventually, but I wanted to at least touch on that because I think it's an incredibly good program that does exactly what we're talking about. It is a program designed to teach people how to be teachers. It's not teaching them, this is how you teach a punch. It's teaching them, this is how you teach, period.
And so I wanted to, you know, you mentioned MADEC and I wanted to make sure to put that in there that so people understood what that was.
Craig Wharem (30:14.182)
Sure, sure. Sometimes I get lost in my own world. So I appreciate that about you.
Andrew Adams (30:16.353)
It's all good. No, I think you're right though. Bringing in outside people is a huge way.
to bring something to your students, obviously, that they don't normally get. But in terms of everybody teaches differently. And the reality is even someone I'm developing to be a teacher in my school, they're still gonna teach differently than I do.
you know, we might have the same type of teaching style, but even still, it's still going to be a little bit different.
Craig Wharem (30:54.694)
Yeah, so, karate and special schools, I, I manage, there's two of them and my original instructor, John English and I run them together. And we always say he and I have the same exact standard and two totally different roadways to get there. He's a little bit more old school, you know, and I'm not. And so it's the same standard. You have to do the same thing. You have to, you know, your material has to look great.
You have to be a kind and generous person, but the way we get there might look different. But, and that's, that's what you want. You want a team of individuals that are all working together towards the same goal. And so what that means is you all have to be unified in your goal, but flexible enough to use your strength to enhance it.
Andrew Adams (31:41.377)
Yeah. Yeah. So we've been talking now for about a half an hour and most of what we've been talking about are for school owners. Let's quickly take a few minutes now to talk about to talk to our audience that do not own a school, but they maybe want to be involved more in their school and help their school out and be a leader in their school. For me, my thought is you have to talk to your
instructor talk to the person running the school and say this is a desire that I would like to have is there something I can do to help would you I mean obviously I'm seeing you nod your head I know you agree but would you have anything to add?
Craig Wharem (32:23.303)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think, well, I think it's a, it's a two part process. Talk to the instructor, let them know this is something I want, but also just kind of just do it right. Like there's, there's no reason to not be a leader. you know, and just try not to be heavy handed, right? Like that one of the most, one of the biggest hurdles I've seen in all the time I've been doing the instructor development is.
Andrew Adams (32:31.649)
Do it.
Craig Wharem (32:51.206)
somebody decides to be a leader and they interpret that as being the louder one or the more knowledgeable one quote unquote and and I would encourage you to recognize leadership is not always being the most knowledgeable or not always being the loudest person but it's recognizing that you're there for the betterment of others and they recognize that too and you know say it a lot a leader is only a leader if they have followers otherwise it's just a person taking a walk right so
Andrew Adams (33:16.993)
Yep. Yep.
Craig Wharem (33:21.446)
If you are interested in becoming a leader or an instructor, first, you have to get over the initial speed bump, talk to the instructor. And then second, just kind of start doing it when you're working with a partner. Just lead, just push them a little bit. Let them push you a little bit, give and take.
Andrew Adams (33:40.129)
Yep, yep. Help out when even when it's not being asked.
Mm -hmm. Yep. Absolutely. Yeah. What have we missed, Craig?
Craig Wharem (33:48.358)
Yeah. And we did an episode, I think, right, Andrew? I'm being a helpful student. So check that out too. That'll probably help.
Andrew Adams (33:59.425)
Ha ha!
Craig Wharem (33:59.654)
I mean, you know me, I could talk about this all day. So, so my mind keeps going, but I think that that's a good introduction, a good initial run into starting a leadership team. And in the meantime, this is, this is an exciting thing, Andrew, I don't think you even know about this yet. If you have questions about leadership team, or you want to talk more, pick my brain, you can email me, craig at whistlekick .com.
Andrew Adams (34:24.545)
oooo
Craig Wharem (34:31.91)
I've had it for a while, I just never talk about it. So you can email me, craigatwistlekick .com. I'd love to talk to you and help you get the ball rolling a little bit.
Andrew Adams (34:39.361)
And for the audience listening or watching, if you have a leadership team, how did you develop it? How did it come about? Are there specific things that you make sure to do with your leadership team that you think others would get use out of and would benefit from hearing about? Please let us know. Go on our Facebook group, page to page now, not a group. Anyway, look up martial arts radio, join that and you know,
Tell everybody, comment on the episode when I post in there about what you do, because we'd love to hear from you. You already know you can reach Craig at whistlekick .com. I'm Andrew at whistlekick .com. Feel free to check out Whistlekick Martial Arts Radio for this episode, for the transcript and everything else. Whistlekick .com, do make any purchase. I forgot to mention at the beginning, if you do make a purchase, you can use the code podcast15, save yourself 15 % off.
Almost anything in the store not everything we don't we don't give discounts for some of our paid events But most everything you'll find a discount on And I think that's it. So until next time
Smile.
Craig Wharem (35:54.982)
Train hard.
and have a great day.