Chances are, you opened a gym because you want to help people live healthier, happier lives. And the longer you run your business, the more you realized that this doesn’t just apply to your members. Your gym team is a huge asset to the business and your success correlates to theirs.
While you might have been flying solo in coaching for the first year or so, once you’ve built a team, the focus changes. It’s no longer just your leadership and financial stability to worry about. You have people counting on you now.
So how do you go about turning your coaches into leaders and providing them a well-paid, full-time career? While there are no guarantees or magic solutions, we’re sharing some proven tips to get the ball rolling.
Three Tips For Your Gym Team Success:
1. Provide Them With Mentorship.
Just like with most professions, a certification alone won’t make someone a rockstar on your team. Developing coaches for the long term requires mentorship, and mentorship takes consistent time and effort.
A large part of the mentorship process involves open communication to uncover what the coach really wants. Talk about what it will take for them to feel fulfilled long-term. You’re developing a leader - both on your gym team and in the community - so examine what that looks like to them.
This is the time to delve into their strengths and weaknesses, which can help steer their career path. You can then help to maximize their strengths in a productive way. For instance, a coach with strong organizational skills should have different tasks than one who’s creative.
It’s also important to ask about their financial targets: What they need to live comfortably? Is there a timeframe for reaching these targets?
Transparency is imperative here. As a gym owner, protecting the business is your primary goal. So it’s worth showing key business metrics to your coach to help them clearly see the goals. Point out where the business is today and what needs to be accomplished in order for you to help them achieve their goals. This provides clarity for their active role in helping achieve success for themselves and the business.
At this point, it’s time to come up with a step-by-step action plan. Include each goal and each task that the coach and the gym are responsible for. Also, designate a timeline and a KPI (key performance indicator) for each. Finally, make sure to put everything in writing so you have a document to reference along the way.
What You Cannot Do, Outsource.
As a busy gym owner, you may not have the time to mentor each member of your gym team. But that doesn’t make the need for mentoring any less significant. If you have coaches who want to make this a career and help your gym succeed, it’s worth investing in them.
Outsource mentoring if you’re unable to do it yourself. Consider asking the mentor you hire to loop you in on the highlights of each conversation. This keeps you connected to the process and your coach’s success.
Finally, if generating enough revenue to pay full-time coaches is a currently a stumbling block, we have some ideas. Check out the January PushPress Blog for ideas to implement additional revenue streams at your gym.
2. Give Your Gym Team Entrepreneurial Opportunities.
It’s not uncommon for your most motivated team members to look for ways to help the gym, in addition to coaching. This is great for your business and your members, so be sure to offer them opportunities to do so.
As part of your mentoring and long-term planning, brainstorm some ideas. The biggest successes will probably happen where the coach’s passion intersects with revenue generation.
For instance, an entrepreneurial member of your gym team might be interested in nutrition coaching. If you cover half the cost of the Healthy Steps Nutrition coaching certification, they can launch a program at your gym. This greatly benefits your members, increases gym retention and provides your coach with the opportunity for substantial additional income.
Alternatively, let’s say you have a coach that’s passionate about sport-specific training. They could organize a summer program for high school teams during your slower gym times to generate revenue. Your coach earns income, the gym earns revenue and you increase brand awareness in your community.
Pro Tip: Help your coaches spread the word about programs and events with automation! Book a demo with the PushPress Grow team today!
One other option is marketing. If one of your coaches is a creative type, task them with writing blogs or designing a social media strategy. On the other hand, if you have an outgoing, sales rockstar on your hands, reward them for finding new ways to bring in business.
The sky is truly the limit when it comes to revenue-generating ideas. For example, check out how this NorCal gym created a learning center, charging $500 per month per child. Once again, the key is matching your coach’s passion to ideas that have revenue traction.
3. Check In Consistently To Keep Them On Track.
Accountability is a game-changer for your coaches as much as it is for you, and for your members. People have the best intentions to get things done but for various reasons, we fall off the plan.
For your gym team, create an accountability process. Whether they’ve committed to launching an Olympic lifting workshop or organizing a gym trivia night, keep them on track.
Following up with regular check-ins isn’t time-intensive and goes a long way toward their success. With each check-in, review the goals and reassess as needed. Timelines can sometimes shift, and so can motivation. For example, your coach may have wanted to launch a mindset coaching program. But if they ironed out the specifics and decided it wasn’t for them, you pivot.
In an instance like that, simply have a conversation. Let them know it’s okay to pursue projects that ignite their passion, provided the new path is also a good revenue opportunity. This saves them from building a program they’re no longer interested in.
Regularly-scheduled, one-on-one check-ins with your coaches allow you to help them lead effectively. Review the plan, assess and revise as needed to continue helping your gym team to succeed.
In Summary: Vibe Check Your Team
Not every coach has aspirations of becoming a full-time leader in your community. In addition, not every coach who wants to lead will have what it takes. Your gym’s success will come from appointing the right people to the right roles, and helping them succeed.
When you identify members of your team that show potential, invest in them. Provide mentorship opportunities. Open the door for them to launch revenue-generating programs. And keep them on track with consistent accountability. Not only does your coach benefit, but you, your gym and your members will as well.
