In recent years, the fitness and wellness industry has faced significant challenges in securing top talent. Factors such as a limited talent pool, high turnover rates, financial constraints, and intense competition have made building a robust management team challenging.

The separation between management and training staff continues to be prevalent in the fitness industry. However, as a fitness business owner, I have witnessed firsthand the tremendous value of incorporating limited, meaningful responsibilities into the roles of my trainers. By creating an environment where trainers can gradually transition into management positions, we not only support their professional development but also enhance the overall strength of our businesses.

Seven reasons to develop your training team:

1. Facilitates Growth: Giving instructors consistent responsibilities above and beyond their training roles enables them to evolve into management positions over time. Starting with just a few hours of dedicated work each week allows them to gradually take on more significant roles as they demonstrate their capabilities. These responsibilities provide a platform for instructors to showcase their skills, creativity, and leadership qualities.
2. Improves Engagement: Empowered instructors and trainers become more invested in the organization’s overall success. Managing a specific program, organizing community outreach efforts, creating staff engagement activities, or more allows them to contribute meaningfully beyond their training hours.
3. Strengthens Team Relationships: Fitness instructors who take on leadership roles cultivate strong connections with clients and coworkers. This camaraderie improves team dynamics and creates a cohesive work environment.
4. Fosters Innovation: Empowering trainers to lead and execute projects or programs encourages them to think creatively and share fresh ideas. This innovative mindset can open new avenues for the organization and reveal opportunities the entire leadership team may not have considered.
5. Builds Institutional Knowledge: This distinctive approach to investing in your trainers improves their skills and builds deep institutional knowledge within your workforce. Trainers transitioning into management roles bring valuable firsthand experience and insights into the business’s day-to-day operations that can speed training time and return on investment.
6. Cultivates Loyalty: Supporting instructors and trainers in their development cultivates a sense of loyalty to the organization, as they feel appreciated and recognized for their contributions. This loyalty, in turn, results in higher retention rates and a more dedicated team. By promoting from within, leadership can build trust, knowledge, and team engagement.
7. Flexible Structure: With the possibility of working an extra 5-15 hours a week, instructors can balance their training schedules with these new responsibilities, making it feasible for them to grow without feeling overwhelmed. This flexible structure benefits the trainer and the organization, fostering a supportive culture that promotes balance and enduring success

By promoting from within, leadership can establish a strong foundation of trust, knowledge, and engagement within their teams. Investing in trainers prepares them for future management positions and elevates the business, resulting in a thriving, dynamic, and loyal fitness community. Embrace the value of nurturing talent from within; it’s a strategy that benefits every aspect of the business.

About Jennifer Maanavi

Jennifer has sculpted an illustrious career over two decades as a pioneering force in health and wellness, serving as a CEO, cofounder, fractional leader, management consultant, advisor, and board member in the wellness space. Passionate about high-growth B2C companies dedicated to improving community well-being, she co-founded and has led Physique 57 since 2006, transforming it into a global boutique fitness and media powerhouse with a presence in all 50 states and four countries.

Fit Guide celebrated Physique 57 as the top Barre Brand worldwide. Mindbody awarded Physique 57 the Industry Icon Award and Vogue named it a Top Six Beauty Brand in India. The brand’s innovative growth strategies were featured in Columbia Business School case studies and McGraw-Hill textbooks. Jennifer’s expertise and insights have also been highlighted in esteemed publications such as Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg TV, Fox Business, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Inc.com. She is also Chair of the YPO Manhattan Gold Chapter and serves on the YPO Northeast Regional Board.