OK, Chris got me. I love that our Academy members are always pushing hard to make sure they’re getting the very best education from Next Gen and implementing like crazy! But…if anyone keeps me accountable for writing what I say I’m going to write, it’s Chris. A few months back I told you I’d give you 10 Goals You Can Give Your Staff To Grow Your Gym. This is super important actually because your staff so often WANT to be involved in the growth of the gym, but we don’t give them tangible tasks that help them do that. Instead, we assume they’re too busy, don’t have the skills or that such lofty tasks would be a burden to them. 

First, I want to tell you – ASK YOUR STAFF what level of involvement they want. Even my most disconnected staff member who is a preschool teacher and runs the whole program at a school wants to be involved in the success of the gym. She may have minimal time and can’t give me daytime hours, but she wants to be involved and help. She loves the gym and wants to see all the amazing things it can do. Plus, if your staff loves kids, they understand that the gym’s growth just means you’re helping MORE KIDS!

Secondly, be clear on what you’re asking them to do and make sure those things align with growth for the gym. This doesn’t mean you’re focused on MORE ATHLETES at all times. It does mean that your staff is growing in knowledge, growing in skill and growing in culture. It also means maybe you’re expanding in program diversity, building stronger relationships with one another and your athletes. Whatever your goals may be, your staff can help you get there in one capacity or another. So, here are ten QUARTERLY goals you can give your staff to help grow your gym.

Goals related to improving systems or processes: 

  • 10 Things to Improve at the Gym.  Have your staff spend a few months giving you things they see that need improvement. It can be as small as “Add more chairs to the lobby” or as big as “Start a ninja program.”
  • 5 Ways to Save Money at the Gym. So I’ll put a caveat here. It takes money to make money. You can save your way into profit. You also don’t need to spend $2,000 on frivolous Amazon purchases each month. I’ve been there. Your staff likely knows about things you’re buying that you don’t need. They recognize inefficiencies and can help you save. (Maybe you’re spending TONS on paper towels because preschoolers grab 10 every time when an air dryer would be a one-time expense but would save you a ton.) 
  • 3 Things Your Staff Needs More Training On. Don’t judge the grammar there. I know. Anyway, your staff knows better than anyone what they could use more training on. Maybe they need more front tumbling drills or need help getting better flyer flexibility. Have them make you a list of things they’d like more training on!

Goals related to growth in revenue:

  • Fill All Tumbling Clinics This Quarter. If you’re offering weekly or monthly clinics, tell your staff you need help filling them. In past years I turned this into a contest, but then I found out, one coach may suggest it, one may follow up and a front desk person may get them registered. How do I say I’ll reward ONE PERSON for getting that registration when it’s a team effort. So, if they fill them all, the whole staff gets dinner one night (or something like that!) 
  • Fill Empty Slots in Upper-Level Classes. We do this a little differently. We focus on kids who need to move out of beginner classes into intermediate or handspring classes. We can fill entry-level classes with our marketing, but when your beginner classes are jam-packed and your upper level classes have openings, your coaches can help! When we did this goal in the past for our staff, they studied skills sheets and found athletes who needed just one or two new skills before they could move up. They suggested specific tumbling clinics to offer based on the trends and even sold out private lessons for those athletes.
  • Coaches’ Referral Program. I can’t be the only person who runs into children everywhere I go. Your coaches aren’t either. Print them flyers or business cards with their name on it and a coupon code. If an athlete registers using that coupon code, the coach gets a prize or points toward a prize. Tell them to make those Walmart trips count!

Goals related to staffing:

  • Staff Referral Program: Create a staff referral program where your coaches can refer friends to work for you and get rewarded! Yes, you have to create the program, but once that’s done, encourage all staff to send the application link to three friends they know who are great with kids. You’ve heard me say it before – I just need great people with great character who are great with kids. If I can teach any athlete a handspring, I can teach any coach how to coach it. No experience required!
  • Staff Recognition Program: Ultimately, recognition leads to retention. Develop a staff recognition program where your coaches nominate one another for awards based on something great he or she has done. Riana has this program and I’ve always thought it was a great way for peer accountability and recognition. This is on our agenda to develop soon!

Goals related to program development:

  • Class Management Peer Assessment: Bring in a coach to assess classes from a parent perspective one night and write you a report (or voice notes) of things you can improve in regard to class management. Are coaches spending 10 minutes trying to get the WiFi to work so they can take attendance? Are they spotting the skills of one athlete with their back turned to the rest of the class? It’s not only helpful for you to know that so you can supplement their training, but it’s important for another coach to see what that looks like and why that’s not good.
  • Front Desk Peer Assessment: Have a coach sit in your lobby one night and watch the front desk. Does the associate at the front have the answer for everything or are there gaps in their training? Do processes that should be simple take way too long because it’s overly complicated? Are they fighting good internet causing them to get less done? Do they say “hi” to everyone who comes in the door? Have the coach write down notes or record voice notes of things you can improve.

Get your staff involved. It will cost you a few labor hours, but the difference it might make in your business could be the biggest difference you’ve seen yet.