Fostering Good Staff Relations and Teamwork

industryTrainers responding
to IDEA’s Work Satisfaction Survey (IDEA Personal Trainer, July-August 2001) feel their relationships with other trainers are unsatisfactory. We asked business managers in IDEA’s 2002 Personal Training Trendwatch survey how they try to create good staff relations and teamwork. These are their ideas. (The full Trendwatch results are in the March 2002 issue
of IDEA Personal Trainer.)

Annette Lang, Esquerre Fitness Group, New York City. The most favorable working environments are where management has made the trainers employees, not independent contractors. Also, an education program partly subsidized by management helps promote good teamwork. Finally, a philosophy of professionalism and strict work ethics embraced by management encourages trainers who want the same.

Dawn Furbank, Furbank Fitness, Huntington, West Virginia. We must respect each other’s fortes and work together to benefit our clients and our communities. Too often I have seen great staffs of talented trainers broken up because of petty gossip, prejudgement and jealousies. We must create a positive unit, like a football team. Everyone is working toward one goal, and that is to win the “Superbowl of Wellness” and the quality of life each of our members/clients deserve.

Ross Clark, Planet Fitness, La Jolla, California. I feel it all starts with the hiring process. I try to hire only those individuals who are motivational team players. I also hire only full-time people. I find full-time people establish better long-term friendships with the other trainers because they feel their job is more career based.

Andrea DiRocco-Supryka, One to One Personal Fitness, Belleville, Ontario. There is a strong focus here at One to One on working as a team. A noncompetitive environment is very important to us for staff relations as well as displaying a relaxed, friendly environment for our clients. We have a full staff meeting once a month and touch base independently with our trainers regularly. We demand professionalism from all of our trainers through their appearance and their interaction with our clients and their colleagues.

Don Walker, Laguna Health Club, Laguna Beach, California. I try to bring in highly qualified trainers with upbeat, fun attitudes and experience enough to know that they can always learn more. In the past, I tended to have the most problems between trainers when I tried to mix highly qualified trainers with minimally qualified beginners. The highly qualified trainers often had “issues” with the minimally qualified trainers.

For the most part, I try to hire a highly qualified, diverse group of trainers who practice what they preach and like to have lots of fun when they train clients. A gym that “pops” with energy is a very powerful and inspirational place to be for trainers and clients alike. When everyone is having fun and working together, the gym is a happy place, and a happy gym is a profitable gym.Weigh in WithOpinion YourWhat do you think of weekend certification courses?
Tell us what you think—we really want to know! E-mail your thoughts to content@ideafit.com or fax them to (858) 535-8234. IDEA PERSONAL Trainer april 2002