I had a call the other day with a number of other club owners. We are all just trying to figure out- WHAT’S NEXT. We have to be able to walk and chew gum. We cannot afford to stay so focused on the virus that we lose sight of other things that are coming our way.
- We are probably going to be allowed to reopen our gyms AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME. Summer is struggle for most gym owners. Have you thought about your plan for summer?
- Will your gyms be under a restriction on the amount of gymnasts you can keep in the gym at one time?
- Are you going to be ready for a possible baby boom? Do you have enough staff trained to teach parent and tot classes?
- What maintenance issues can you take care of in the down time?
- Have you been able to do anything to further your education?
Following the conversation I read a great article in FORBES. I want to share some of the thoughts and Ideas. Read the original article here.
Now more than ever, there’s a need for great leadership in your gym. Even for seasoned gym owners and managers, when it comes to leading during a crisis like COVID-19, it’s hard to know where to begin. Every gym I know has been forced to lay off most if not all their employees.
The truth is, this experience will change us. It’s like nothing I’ve ever witnessed in my 53 years of life. It’s different from any of the major challenges our society has faced in the recent past. Similar to 9/11, it feels like it came out of nowhere, and there’s simply no playbook to be found. Nobody really knows what to do.
Right now there are more questions than answers, and this level of ambiguity is difficult for humans—we crave certainty. But if you’re “the boss” in the gym, it’s imperative for the success of your team and business to be strong and to lead with everything you’ve got.
Here are five powerful ways you can help your people in a significant way:
- Stay Positive (Even When You Feel Negative): This one is tricky. Shouldn’t leadership be about honesty? Yes, for the most part. But the reality is, with this crisis, nobody knows what will happen. So we have a choice between guiding our employees with negativity or positivity. As a rule- I don’t do drama. This doesn’t mean sugar coating the reality of our current situation or turning a blind eye to everything that’s going on. It means that, instead of getting caught up in the spiral of worst-case scenario thinking, you intentionally choose to focus on what you can control, what’s going right, and how you and your employees can work together to support each other and move forward day by day.
- Create A Message Of Hope: If I could turn back the clocks and prevent this pandemic from happening, I would do it in a heartbeat. But I can’t. It’s here, and it’ll be with us for the next few months, if not more. So, it’s time to think about the potential silver linings of this international catastrophe, faraway as they may seem right now. What problems have we been facing as a population, and how can this help us be better as a whole? I see two obvious themes: coming together and having a shared experience of discomfort and very justified fear (after all, this is affecting everyone). What hopeful message can you come up with—and spread to coaches you work with—that aligns with these common threads? How can these themes ultimately benefit the gym?
- Be Vulnerable And Make An Effort To Connect: Being vulnerable is hands down the best thing you can do as a leader. Period. Connection is critical at a time like this, especially when we’re all isolated in our homes, and opening up tends to allow others to trust and connect effortlessly with you. No, it sure isn’t easy, but it’s an effective strategy to leverage. Whether you do so in one-on-one meetings or with your full staff, try to find moments where you can share your true feelings and be honest and emotionally open.
- Take Care Of Yourself: For many of us, this one is very hard to follow. We are used to being physical and moving every day. Now we spend a great deal of our time navigating SBA loan applications. Before this- I worked out almost every day. Then coached. Now- I try to go for a walk or run in the morning and then some exercises around the house. I think I have invented a new workout regimen POWER YARD WORK. Even though our gyms are closed there’s too much to do, too many problems to solve, and more people to connect with than humanly possible, it’s easy to let self-care go. But don’t. You can’t be inspiring if you’re exhausted. You can’t lead if you get sick. You can’t be hopeful if you’re stressed out. This is non-negotiable.
- Have A Plan: The nature of this crisis is making planning difficult because things are changing by the day and week. However, as a leader, you want to give your people something to hold onto. Share your plan for the week. As much as you can, it’s optimal to demonstrate that you’re thinking of ways to tackle the challenges and you’re putting these ideas into action and getting everyone back to work.
Let me know how YOU are doing. It’s a tough time but we are going to be OK. #itsgoing2Bok
