taking over a sloppy mess of a group ex program that has not been monitored. Instructors resistance to authority
Instructors not answering my e mails requesting updates on their certifications, instructors not teaching on the phrase, members who are super bossy. I’ve only been there a week and its my first coordinating job. I would like to tighten things up and add/remove some classes, and i know that it will create pushback from instructors and members. I don’t want to come off as a nag from the get -go. Please, any advice will be MOST helpful.
Hi Stacy,
one sentence stood out for me: “I’ve only been there a week and its my first coordinating job.” I realize that you feel under pressure of proving yourself to deal with this ‘sloppy mess of a group ex program’.
Maybe you have not worded things like that to your instructors but I suspect the sentiment came across like it. If you want to succeed here, you have to do some fact-finding first. Generalizations like ‘sloppy mess’ won’t get you anywhere and will only antagonize the instructors further. Like it or not, you are dependent on the good will and cooperation of your instructors. Monitor classes and be specific in what needs improvement. Ask members what they want. They may appear to you as bossy but they are paying your salary, and your job is to make them happy, all the while keeping an eye on your employer.
Was there a coordinator before you came? Somebody must have been organizing this. Who told you about the ‘sloppy mess’?
Put yourself in the shoes of your instructors. How would you like to be approached if things were reversed? You will have a much easier time if you earn their respect rather than trying to act on authority. Newton’s law still applies that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
I hope you can hit a reset button and start over with building a relationship with the members and instructors.
Karin Singleton
www.KarinSingleton.com
HHH No I was just venting a bit. There was no coordinator for over 5 years, the director was doing everything and she was totally overwhelmed with a remodel of the facility and not enough employees. Not her fault. Last coordinator quit because she had a run in with a member.
I have been just going to classes, getting to know members and teachers. I have not made any suggestions or changes. I am just getting a feel for how the culture is.
I am just sad that only one or two instructors are certified, but I don’t have to address it immediately. I will have a new boss next week, so then I will have some direction and see what she would like the priorities to be.
Please don’t take me wrong guys, I am blessed to get the job. The instructors are nice and the members are nice. They just got into the habit of being able to run off instructors that they couldn’t control from what I have heard, and they like things to stay as they are( don’t we all, LOL)
So I hope this clarifies that I want to be the best coordinator I can be, and I want to build relationships ( good ones) with the members and co-workers on the team.
THANKS
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Hi Stacy,
thanks for the clarification.
You need to have a discussion with your boss first. Allowing instructors without a valid certification can put the facility at risk from a liability standpoint.
I would prepare for the meeting with the new boss with observations and maybe some suggestions. I also suggest to get to know the members better. There are usually very few who are much more vocal than others and set the tone. But that does not mean that everybody agrees with them. If you can identify those, you can try to get them over to your side.
Good luck with your new job.
Karin Singleton
www.KarinSingleton.com
OK, take a few deep breaths.
Schedule two staff meetings, with the exact same agenda. Tell them they have to be at one or the other. That way, people can pick the one that best fits their schedule.
Have a “get to know you,” and “get to know your expectations.” Learn what’s happening, what their concerns are, and that you’ll be coming to take portions of all of their classes and hear about them soon.
Have them bring copies of their documentation to that meeting.
To me the one thing that got my attention here is the fact that some of the instructors are not even certified. I think this could be the factor as to why the members don’t respect the them and they are trying to be bossy. If they are not certified or have the experience behind them so they can lead their classes then it’s hard to do create the environment for them to be in charge.
Getting a feel from the members is one way to figure out what the problem is, but you will need to hire instructors who have the experience of handling such situations (besides the fact that they could delivered a better and more efficient class as well). Your job is to provide the best service possible to the member and give them what they are paying for. And of course you want for your facility to offer the best possible class instruction in the area and be one step above your competition (this can be done by hiring some experienced instructors). First you start by having the best people behind you an then you can worry about your members.
Having a new boss coming in, doesn’t mean he/she is the answer to the problem because he/she would run into the same issues as you have. Maybe you can create some new classes and make things interesting for everyone. Hopefully your new boss will have some great ideas and together you two can come up with something exciting. You can also ask the member for their input as to where the issues are in the gym and that will give you some direction as to how to proceed.
I hope this helps. Good luck to you!