If you're a gym manager, it's likely that you're in charge of engaging with your members. This can be challenging—people come and go, they have busy lives and families, and the last thing they want is to be bothered by the staff at their gym. That said, there are ways you can make it easier for them to open up and communicate with you so that they feel more connected to the gym as a whole. Here are some tips on how best to engage with your members:
Make yourself available.
- Make yourself available.
- Be there for your members when they need you, and be willing to go above and beyond for them in any way possible. This includes being available to answer questions about equipment or nutrition, helping members with their workouts, hosting events that encourage social interaction between gym-goers (like yoga classes), and more.
- Be friendly! If you're new at this job, try to engage in conversation with each member who comes through the door as often as possible--it shows that you care about them as individuals instead of just treating them like numbers on paper or dollar signs in your bank account.
- Use positive reinforcement when asking for feedback from people who attend events hosted by your gym; don't mention anything negative unless it's absolutely necessary!
Ask for feedback.
- Ask for feedback on a regular basis. You should be asking members how they feel about the gym, what they like and dislike, and what could be improved. This will allow you to know what is working well and where there are opportunities for change.
- Ask for feedback on a one-on-one basis. You can do this with each member individually or in small groups at intervals throughout the year (for example every 6 months). It's important that everyone feels comfortable giving their honest opinion without fear of judgment so make sure this is done in a private setting where there aren't any other people around who might overhear what's being said!
- Ask for feedback in group settings such as birthday parties or team building events where everyone gets together outside of the gym environment which may be more relaxed than usual making it easier for people to share their thoughts freely."
Offer to help.
When you're engaging with members, it's important to ask what you can do to help. This is a great way of showing them that you have their best interests at heart and are willing to go above and beyond. If someone says they want help with their squat form or getting ready for a competition, offer up specific tips or exercises that would support them in those areas.
If someone has been struggling with something specific (e.g., weight loss), ask if there is anything you can do to improve their experience at the gym by helping them get closer to their goals faster. You could also offer tips on how best to achieve these results--and follow up by thanking them for choosing your facility!
Host an event.
Host an event.
Events are a great way to engage your members and get them involved in the gym. Hosting events can also be a great opportunity for you as the owner or manager of the gym to raise money for charities that are important to you and your team, as well as educate people about things like healthy eating habits or saving money on fitness equipment. Here are some ideas:
- A fun run/walk where participants pledge money per mile they walk/run (and take photos along their route that they post on social media).
- A class where participants learn how to cook nutritious meals on a budget, with all ingredients provided by sponsors of this class (who receive free advertising in exchange).
- An educational workshop where experts talk about topics such as how much weight loss should cost per month versus how much it actually costs; whether certain foods should be avoided during pregnancy; how often children should visit doctors; etcetera!
Takeaway:
- Offer to help members with their workouts.
- Offer to help members with their diets.
- Offer to help members with their nutrition.
- Offer to help members with their exercise routines, or just ask them what they're trying out this week and offer suggestions on how you might be able to support them in reaching those goals (e.g., "I've been doing a lot of kettlebell swings lately, so I know what it's like when you feel like your arms are going to fall off!").
- If someone asks for advice about setting up an exercise routine or getting started on something new, offer some suggestions based on your own experience--and if there are any classes coming up at the gym that might interest him/her (e.g., "I know this class is really popular right now because it involves punching things!"), make sure he/she knows about them!
Conclusion
By engaging with your gym members, you can create a better experience for them and improve your bottom line. You'll also be able to keep your staff motivated and engaged--which is crucial for any business!
