As CrossFitters we time our workouts and put our names on the board along with our times…good, bad and ugly. If we perform poorly we get to see our name next to others who performed better. Most of us can’t stand this and resolve ourselves to do whatever it takes to do better next time.
As CrossFitters we also track our performance in a notebook or log. We set goals for ourselves…get a sub 4 min FRAN time, add 20lbs to my squat, etc.
It should be no different for your affiliate and your training practice. If you are a one man/woman show you will set expectations and goals for yourself and you will need to keep yourself accountable. If you are managing a team of trainers you will need to set expectations and help them to set goals. And it will be you who will help keep them accountable.
From the most business savvy of my clients I have learned that trainer performance needs to be measured and folks need to have help setting goals. Hence the implementation of the trainer whiteboard and the beauty of the MBO “staff performance” report. This reporting function allows you to easily track session counts for a given time period.
I now use this report in conjunction with an internal Google doc “Trainer Whiteboard” with each trainer’s session count posted. Whether it’s group classes or private sessions, everyone’s performance is integral to the whole operation…and ultimately to the trainer’s own success.
We have monthly minimum’s that need to be met to be an active trainer in our gym (active trainer has name and bio on website, key to the facility, and gets to train in group classes free of charge), but after that they can be as busy and successful as their drive and motivation dictates. Seeing where you rank on the whiteboard helps foster a little friendly competition…and everyone benefits. MBO makes it easy to do!
Hey Nicki, just wanted to let you know I love your blog and have gotten some great info from it so far! I appreciate you taking the time to pass on all the nuggets of wisdom you’ve collected from your experiences so far. We’ve just made the investment in MBO, and have gone through two online training sessions with them so far. We’re realizing now there is ALOT of info to digest, and we’re hoping navigating the program becomes easier with more use. It looks like it has a ton of useful tools like the trainer report you discussed, so we’re excited to sink our teeth into it! I noticed you have all potential new members email you to schedule the twelve one on ones as opposed to having that in your store…do you do that for a more personal approach? or is it because you don’t have scheduled one on one times? I was hoping you could explain…because we were trying to figure out if we wanted our one on one in our store or have them contact us…
Thanks Nicki!
Hi Mark,
We allow folks to “request an appointment” for 1-1 training. This gives the trainer more control over their schedules. Also, some of our trainers have different personal training rates and a new client who doesn’t know who they’ll be working with might purchase a package of training that is less expensive than the trainer they might end up working with.
Hope that makes sense!
Hang in there with the software…it will become more and more intuitive as you go along!
Nicki
Hi Nikki,
Wanted to drop a note to say “hi” and let you know I read your blog often and really appreciate how much you give back.
As relatively new gym owners (2 years), it seems that Luila and I have learned more from our mistakes than successes. Watching the March 19th video was like a shot in the arm! It’s incredible how much can happen in a short time.
It was great having dinner with you and Robb at the FilFest and look forward to hanging with you again in the future.
Eric
PS Tell Robb that the Phosphatidyl-Serine was a dead-on recommendation!
Eric
Hey Eric!
Thanks! It was great seeing the two of you in Austin as well! Robb says “right on!”
Nicki,
I have loved following your blog here on the east coast and have mirrored your mistakes as I have gone along as well.
Having no real buisness exp. I have had to learn as I went along.
One thing that you have touched on in this post is how you have a minimum for your trainers. If possible can you elaborate on that? We have many of our students attending Level I certs and wishing to start training. The question is, what is your requirement for minimal classes and amount of clients to warrant a comp membership and to get a paycheck.
Thanks,
Ryan
Hey Ryan!
I will elaborate in a future entry. For now, let me just say that most new trainers are green (passionate yes, but green nonetheless) and have very little experience training people. When they get started they are learning the ropes and we are doing a fair amount of hand holding…they need to earn their stripes, and they need to demonstrate their ability to attract a client base. Once they do, the sky is the limit. This would be different of course if an experienced rock star of a trainer like Dutch Lowy showing up on our doorstep (we’ve begged him, but he’s too attached to Texas!)
Hope that helps!