Guest post by Mark Anderson, School Dean of the International Institute of Cosmetology
Without exception, every single teacher, regardless of discipline or trade, taught for the first time once. The class may have been an auditorium filled to the rafters with students whose collective stares appeared to be a convocation of high-beam headlights, or a one-on-one exchange with a
student who still would not look away from the phone! Either way, or any variation in between, moving away from personal practice into the world of instruction can be very intimidating.
Some instructors are formally trained and fail, while others are thrown into the deep end of the pool on day one and easily swim from one task to another, one eager student to another less interested.
In the world of cosmetology, this is no different in every respect. In the cosmetology world, whether formally or informally trained, every professional learned under someone or multiple persons the step-by-step, and the more exotic ways to enhance one’s beauty. Maybe the title was not “teacher,” “instructor,” or “mentor,” but he/she/they certainly met the criteria. What should YOU do when YOU are thinking about moving from one side of the chair to the other? How well will YOU be able to resist the temptation to do and instead teach?
Well here are some very basic tips of the trade to get you started on that journey to becoming a cosmetology instructor. Firstly, and this may sound clichéd, don’t be afraid to try your hand at teaching. What is the worst that can happen? You don’t like it and never have to teach again?! Believe me that is no big deal, and you can go back to being the amazing beauty professional that you always were. Secondly, the best teachers are those who always want to learn. If and when you were a student, you may have taken the learning for granted.
Odds are you were watching the clock, accumulating those hours, until you were able to obtain a license and go about building your client base. But now that you are looking to learn to teach…take a class yourself. It does not have to be months or years long, [and in the age of the New Normal during COVID there may be additional challenges] but it could be a short class where you will better yourself in a number of ways.
You will expand your knowledge of a new technique or maybe a product, and that alone makes you a better beauty professional. More importantly, watch what the person leading the class does. Most importantly, whenever the class ends tell the person or persons instructing the following: “I am an aspiring teacher, and would you share with me your best tips on how to teach?” [Psst…this is where I will let you in on a little secret. Teachers like to talk! Moreover, an individual asking them for teaching advice makes teachers feel good].
Lastly, now that you have taken the leap and are going to try to teach cosmetology, have taken a class to reinvigorate your professional self, as well as have picked the brains of a fellow beauty teacher, here is the last tip. Don’t overthink it!
Once you are in front of your students, just do what comes naturally to you. You will not be expected to turn your students into professionals over a single class. You will not be expected to churn out the next social media influencer before the day is over. But you will be expected to demonstrate that you are the professional and they are the students…and guess what, YOU are.
And when the day ends, and you kick yourself because you realize that you asked Tanya to demonstrate on the mannequin and her name is in fact Tina…you are now a cosmetology teacher who hopefully is looking forward to returning the following day.
Although there will be setbacks along the way, you will discover the rewards you receive may be indescribable.
Mark Anderson, School Dean, International Institute of Cosmetology
Image: www.freepik.com
