Here’s a fact about owning your own gym that some people understand right away but that comes slowly to others:
You can’t do everything yourself.
Once you accept this fact, then you can open your mind to the power of building your bdream gym team. That’s when you can start developing a real business, and not just something that keeps you running from one task (or crisis) to the next.
You could think of your gym team as mere employees, if you like. But it’s more valuable to think of your gym team as your greatest asset – more than your location, your equipment, and all your certifications.
Billionaire Richard Branson says, “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.”
And within the fitness industry, Tony Horton says a cohesive gym team essential. “When everyone is aligned and working towards a common goal, your gym becomes a place where miracles happen,” he says.
These quotes emphasize the importance of hiring smart, motivated individuals who align with your gym’s values and goals. They also highlight the significance of investing in your team’s development and creating a positive work environment, which ultimately leads to better service and satisfaction for your gym members.
So, please, learn to re-channel your “I’ll just do it myself” approach into “I’ll build the right team” instead. You’ll get better results right away and far into the future.
Read “Hiring Gym Staff? Pump Up Your Team with These Pro Tips”
What Makes Up a Gym Team?
Take a moment and imagine you’re the coach of a Major League Baseball all-star team. You get to have your pick to fill the roster. Who’s your starting pitcher going to be? Then, who do you need in the bullpen?
If this guy’s your lead-off batter, then who’s best at clean-up?
Who seems like a team player? Who has a terrible reputation? Who makes you feel like they have their best days in front of them?
As leader of your gym team, think about the positions addressed below. Maybe you don’t need all of them, and that’s fine. The main factor in deciding if you need someone in a certain position is this: Will it grow your business?
If so, then consider adding it to the lineup.
If it doesn’t improve the results and experience of your clients, it’s probably not something you should be spending time or money on.
Remember, running a successful gym isn’t just about having state-of-the-art equipment or a prime location—it’s about the people who work there. From the trainers who inspire members to the front desk staff who greet them with a smile, every team member plays a crucial role in creating a thriving community.
1. Personal Trainers: The Heartbeat of Your Gym
Look for certified, well-qualified trainers, of course. But also make sure their passion for helping people is genuine, that they want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and that they will support your values and policies.
Support them by helping them acquire clients. Suggest educational opportunities and potential certifications they can pursue. Get to know their aspirations so you can help them achieve them.
Be empathetic about the challenges they have in building their clientele and sometimes scrambling in the demanding world of personal trainers.
And consider: Do you want them to be employees, or would you rather they be independent contractors paying monthly rent?
2. Front Desk Staff: The Face of Your Gym
Gyms often drop the ball here. Have you ever visited a business that had a bored, disinterested teenager behind the front desk, who didn’t look up from his phone, let alone offer a greeting or any offer of service?
Your front desk person is often the first member of your gym team whom prospects and customers encounter. He or she can set the tone for the whole user experience, helping to close a sale – or scare off a prospect immediately.
Don’t leave this to chance. Hire friendly, organized, efficient people with an interest in customer service and abilities using your company’s software and other essential operating systems.
Make sure they know your expectations – like remembering members’ names and goals, returning business inquiries, or helping guests with little problems that might come up.
3. Maintenance Workers: Keeping Things Running Smoothly
Behind the scenes, maintenance workers keep your gym safe, clean, and operational. Their responsibilities may include equipment maintenance, facility repairs, and ensuring cleanliness throughout the gym.
Whether you hire employees for this or contract out to a service, make sure you have detail-oriented team members who have actual maintenance skills and can handle a crisis with calm efficiency.
It’s helpful to establish cleaning and maintenance schedules. And you should also have periodic, scheduled inspections to make sure everything is running shipshape.
This is where you’ll be happy to remember: You don’t have to do everything yourself (like cleaning the toilets and fixing the plumbing).
4. Auxiliary Service Providers: Rounding Out the Offerings
Particularly since the pandemic, more gyms and studios are augmenting their gym teams with specialists who are on-site for a set schedule during a typical week.
These include massage therapists, chiropractors, nutrition counselors, and more. Some gyms are even partnering with healthcare providers to make available the popular class of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound.
Broadly, the idea is that people see your gym as more than just a place to work out. It becomes a one-stop shop for all kinds of health and wellness services.
And the professionals you bring in probably have their own clientele, so you’ll gain exposure to them as potential clients, as well.
5. Marketing and Communications
Here’s another duty that gym owners often let slip into the “I’ll get to that when I have time” category.
In truth, any successful business bakes communications and marketing into its daily operations, right from the start. They don’t treat it like a “nice to have” because they know it’s a “must have.”
· Hold weekly team meetings.
· Send at least one email a week to prospects and team members.
· Post regularly on social media channels.
· Maintain relationships with relevant reporters at media outlets in your community – so they see you as a source for their coverage and already know all about you.
· Consider using an advertising or marketing service for some of this. It’s not always necessary, but it can be a useful way to save time and money – just like hiring a tax accountant to do your taxes can. (You don’t have to do everything yourself – remember?)
· Plan events like open houses, fitness challenges, and in-real-life networking opportunities.
These duties are too important to just hope you’ll get to them. And it’s not fair or realistic to expect a trainer or operations manager to pick them up as “extras.” So, write them into a job description and account for the time (and pay) involved.
Coming Together
Building a cohesive gym team goes beyond hiring the right individuals for each role. It’s about fostering a culture of collaboration, support, and continuous improvement. Here are some strategies to promote teamwork and unity among your gym staff:
- Regular Team Meetings: Schedule regular meetings where staff can discuss goals, challenges, and ideas for improvement. Make sure everyone feels welcome to contribute and be heard.
- Recognition and Rewards: Acknowledge and celebrate staff achievements, whether it’s hitting personal training milestones, receiving positive feedback from members, or completing certifications.
- Team-Building Activities: Organize team-building exercises, social events, or wellness challenges to strengthen bonds among gym team members.
Conclusion
Everybody wants to play on a winning team. It feels good when you’re supported by colleagues and management. And then you can’t help but radiate confidence and positivity to clients and the community.
So, always be open to new roles, changing responsibilities, and sources for the best talent. But don’t run around trying to match every new trend that comes along. Stay true to your values and business plan, and manage your gym team with the business in mind.
You found the perfect spot. You got the right equipment. Now, with the right gym team onboard, there’s no stopping you.
If you want to learn how to broaden your network and find the best talent available, discover where to look for your next rock star and find them faster than you think, download Naamly’s FREE guide: “12 Places To Hire Your Next Star Trainer.” It’s loaded with pro tips you can start implementing today to create your dream team, watch them flourish and see your bank account and happiness multiply.