Begin every lesson by setting goals for the student. When a goal is achieved, immediately acknowledge and reinforce the success. Then, praise. Tell the student you're happy with his or her accomplishment. Make sure you reinforce the success during the postflight briefing. This sequence is very important. A frequent complaint I hear from students is that their CFI is "never satisfied." Some CFIs do inadvertently keep raising the bar without acknowledging success. This is a morale buster.
What happens when learning difficulties or unplanned events prevent the student from achieving the goal? Here is where CFIs really demonstrate their skill. You must find some success within the failure. If the whole goal wasn't reached, find the portion of it that was executed well. Say what went right as well as what went wrong.
Keeping students feeling good about their progress is an extremely important part of your job. Good instructors recognize the need to keep their students motivated. Begin by choreographing each lesson to ensure that your students achieve some form of success. Remember to acknowledge and reinforce that success when it occurs, and remind the student about it as he or she departs the airport with a smile and the desire to return and learn.
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