The last few weeks have been one of the biggest tests of our lives/careers, maybe even especially for the fitness industry. Everything is being tested — cash reserves, emergency planning, bookkeeping, customer communication systems, and more. But perhaps most of all, our leadership is being tested right now.
How we lead our teams during the Covid-19 crisis is perhaps our most important task. Good leadership will allow us to take better care of our clients, help us maintain a strong foundation for future success, and ensure that we retain our humanity during a very difficult season.
Leadership author and speaker Simon Sinek said that “leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.” Now is our chance to find out what our employees need, and deliver that to them willingly and quickly. It will make all the difference.
Here are a few things we can do to show our teams that we care about them during the uncertainty of the Covid-19 quarantine:
Be Flexible
Many of your typical operating procedures have had to go out the window, and everything is new. There is a chance your new ideas and procedures may not work right away. We are all learning, so nobody can get everything right the first time. Be willing to listen to your employees and seek to learn what’s working and what’s difficult. Perhaps the 7:00 AM daily check-ins conflict with online school calls. Maybe the remote meeting tool you acquired isn’t performing like you thought. The key is to listen to your people, and adjust accordingly. Nobody expects you to have all the answers — they just expect you to keep going until you find the right answer.
Increase Trust
Working remotely is tough on everyone, and everyone needs to be patient. An extra measure of trust goes a long way in keeping employees happy and reducing their stress. As a leader, it is important to assume positive intent. If someone is late to a conference call, assume it was because of internet issues. If you get a call from a client, assume they are going to praise your employee for going the extra mile. Don’t allow for your team to get complacent, but assume they are working hard until you clearly see otherwise.
Stay Connected
Working in a gym is appealing to many trainers and staff because of the connection with others. When you take that daily connection away, it can have a negative effect on mental health and productivity. Keep the human connection alive with your staff (and perhaps even clients) through regular digital interactions (Zoom “Coffee Breaks” or “Happy Hours”). These connections shouldn’t be accountability checks — those can come separately. They should simply be a low-key way to keep the social interactions alive in a socially-distanced world.
Training and Development
This is a great time to increase your employees’ knowledge and skills. Offer them opportunities to take additional training and development through online courses on sites such as www.udemy.com, www.coursera.com, www.masterclass.com, and others. They may be able to get additional certifications, or simply learn about new areas that can help your business (gym design, customer service, marketing, and so many more). Ask them to report back and share with the team the things they have learned.
You can also coordinate with other local businesses to provide free informal seminars for employees on things like financial planning, parenting, home cooking, etc. You and your employees can offer a course in fitness!
Small Tokens of Appreciation
Small acts of appreciation go a long way in helping your employees feel valued. Take the time to send a personal note of encouragement (yay for mail!), a gift card to a local takeout restaurant, or a scheduled delivery of a treat via Doordash or Grub Hub.
Just Do Your Best
The best way to ensure that you are taking care of your employees is to simply prioritize humanity. Listen to your team’s concerns and be the one they can count on to understand their challenges. You won’t be able to solve every challenge, but they will know that you care.
And that’s enough to get us through this.