Fitness Coordinators/Directors – how do you handle instructors who won’t commit?
I have 2 instructors who have expressed interest in teaching the same format but wasn’t able to provide more spots. I just had 1 opening and asked if either wanted the spot. Now I am getting non-committal responses. Things like “Is ‘so & so’ going to be interested in alternating or do you need me every class?” or responding with interest but only if they can adjust the schedule.
Should I just forgo the whole mess and tell them as they could not provide a definite answer then I am not going to offer the class? Do I say I will let them share the class but they need to make sure it is always covered?
I am new to my role so am still laying the foundation and this is one those really difficult moments that is not black and white for me.
Sue D’Alonzo, in a perfect world that might work. However, i was recently hired into this position and these instructirs have been working for the gym for awhile. I believe all coordinatirs and directors do try to hire positive individuals and many instructors say they want more classes. It is sometimes like a kid in a candy shop, their eyes are bigger than their stomachs.
If it was a class that I felt would do well enough to offer, I would run an ad for an instructor locally. I would tell the 2 instructors that they could commit to taking the class within 2 days. If they don’t and you find someone else, you are done. If I didn’t get someone right away, I would run the ad a little longer (two to three weeks).
Thank you!
I already had 2 instructors but they were giving me the hem-n-haw of alternating.
Silence turned out to be a best friend. I put it out there then left it for the day. When i checked back the next morning one of them pulled the trigger saying she would take it and would like the other as a back up.
“I have a time slot open on Tuesdays at 10:30am. Format options are ____, _____, and _____. If you teach any of these formats and are willing to take the timeslot or sub it, please let me know as soon as possible. If no one will commit to taking the class as their permanent responsibility, we will hold off launching this time slot until I have a steady, committed, instructor.”