Retain fitness talent by building a winning culture
In the current job market, employers need to pay more attention than ever to their company culture to attract and retain fitness talent. Emphasize the values and principles that guide your team’s work. A positive gym culture doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by setting simple core values that your trainers and staff can relate to. This goes a long way toward fostering an encouraging atmosphere for your employees and members. Regular communication of such values empowers individual employees to rise to the challenge through unique experiences and partnerships while aligning their efforts with the company’s goals. Upskill & offer career development opportunities for your employees. A comprehensive Gallup study of American workers revealed:- 48% would switch jobs for skills training opportunities
- 65% believe employer-provided upskilling is very important
- Personality fit – Dig deeper into a candidate’s personality and make sure it fits your organization’s culture. The additional step of assessing candidates for their personality fit assures that you are getting the perfect person for the job.
- Soft skills – Good communication, active listening, time management, and interpersonal skills can greatly impact how well employees work together and accomplish tasks. Neglecting to develop soft skills can lead to confusion, tension, or other issues that impede progress.
Motivate your team and move your business forward
A workforce survey from Facebook in 2018 identified three main motivators that inspire people: career, community, and cause. This insight has become increasingly important to fitness organizations given its key role in retaining successful employees. Actionable takeaways for your business: Take the time to build relationships with each employee by getting to know them personally. Having regular team meetings and skills-sharing sessions with your trainers can be great ways to start building a connection and help employees feel heard, understood, and valued. Recognize employees publicly to reinforce the “we” mentality and promote solidarity. Incorporating incentives and recognition shows that you value your employees and demonstrates a clear commitment to success. Try adding some of these to your gym:- Feature an employee of the month
- Social media posts highlighting their achievement
- Create an employee appreciation program
- Give shout-outs in team meetings
- Use flexible scheduling or have extra paid time off
- Design and lead new classes
- Experiment with trending workout routines
- Run your social media for a day or a week
- Come up with promotional ideas
Offering flexibility and work-life balance helps retain fitness talent
Flexible scheduling helps retain skilled employees by acknowledging their needs and personal obligations outside work hours. Scheduling options for health and fitness clubs:- Part-time: Useful option for a wide range of people, allowing them to balance their commitments while still having the opportunity to pursue meaningful work.
- Flextime: Allowing employees greater control over when they come in gives them greater flexibility without compromising core hours or productivity expectations.
- Compressed workweek: It allows employees to complete their regular hours in fewer days, making the standard 40-hour week more manageable and enjoyable without sacrificing productivity.
- Job sharing: Allowing two part-time workers to take on one full-time role, both parties benefit from creative scheduling that meets their individual needs.
- Students who need part-time work to better balance their schedules.
- Parents looking for more time with family or to cut daycare costs.
- Employees nearing retirement want to work but need a less stressful pace.
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