We hear a lot about high performance cultures in business and sports teams, such as the incredible Team Sky. However, many personal trainers operate remotely or as a small team. Is a high performance culture possible in personal training? If so, how do you create one?
Yes to high performance cultures
From the sole trader through to the globo gym, high performance cultures are just as important in personal training as they are in any other field. The personal training industry is a service provider. Delivered properly it can literally change an individuals life, from improving their level of functional movement, reducing the risk of disease, extending life span. For the athletes, proper strength and conditioning input can improve playing levels and extend careers. Both have scenario’s have financial implications too.
Establishing a high performance culture delivering personal training benefits the client first and foremost, but also makes great business sense. It’s a win win.
Creating a high performance culture for personal trainers
An in depth discussion of psychology pertaining to building cultures is beyond the scope of this blog. Instead, I shall look specifically at key factors that are important for personal trainers. Having a great personal training product goes way beyond writing excellent training programmes. The delivery of said programme is critical. Factors such as punctuality, timings, frequency, duration and coaching influence programme delivery. No two clients are the same, and therefore, the optimal delivery of a programme will vary between clients. The coach and client relationship is crucial. You may have excellent technical knowledge but does your client understand you? Time spent developing, honing and reviewing the social aspects of your sessions is time well spent. Don’t consider your effectiveness purely on your programme design, or the results you achieve. They are important, for sure, but are one part of the whole package or delivery.
How we do one thing …
Is how we do everything. When it comes to performance cultures this is very true. The personal trainer who cut’s corners away from sessions will be under performing. Furthermore, cutting corners becomes a habit. Cut too many corners and the client experience will suffer. To maintain high standards of delivery what you do away from sessions is equally important to what happens when you’re in front of a client. From timetables and invoicing through to generating new business, the commitment to excellence mustn’t stop. These are the foundations of the business, often unseen by the client, but equally influential.
As an experienced personal trainer in Ascot, I will ask myself questions such as:
- Are clients treated equally, regardless of their goals, location and the income that they generate?
- Are all enquiries that come in treated as though they were the only one we have?
- Will lead generation ideas receive the same level of focus?
- Do we remain humble at all times, placing client needs first.
- Do colleagues share the same values as the business?
I’m sure there are many more questions that are relevant too. Regular reflection on your business is key to developing a high performance culture. Excellent businesses and teams are not developed overnight, and no one gets it right from the start. Plan, Do and Review.
