|
Articles Home Page
|
Articles Home
|
Communication Conundrums of Group Fitness Instructors and Managers
|
|
|
What's your opinion? :
Tell us what you think by writing a review. merely click on the "Write a Review" link at the very bottom of this page.
|
|
|
Communication Conundrums of Group Fitness Instructors and Managers
Fitness presenter and consultant Shannon Fable addresses many common communication pitfalls in the health club setting between staff members.
By:
Shannon Fable
|
|
|
Whether you are a group fitness instructor or group fitness manager (GFM), you have undoubtedly experienced communication issues with colleagues or supervisors. Of course, such issues are most likely not intentional, just a product of the unique relationship we all share. Lots of information to be disseminated, many people in need of receiving the information, an ever-changing staff, and the many hats we all wear contribute to the problem.
Instructors typically site the following issues with regards to communication in the group fitness setting:
Working At Too Many Places To Keep All Of The Information Straight
Instructors very rarely work at only one club. If you are fortunate to have one home base, chances are you probably have another job (or several) that vie for your attention. Combine emails, phone calls, text messages from the two clubs where you teach with notes from your child's teacher, bills and your email inbox and you just might have a meltdown when group fitness communication comes in on top.
Phone List Is Always Out Of Date
Instructors are constantly coming and going, changing emails or phone numbers and adding to what they can/can't teach. A printed phone list is nice to have with you, but can be problematic when you're trying to reach out and find someone to take your Thursday morning class, quickly. Out of date phone lists not only make communicating hard but, at times, can also waste precious moments of your day (think about phoning a sub that is no longer on the list or an instructor that quit 2 months ago).
Sub Protocol Is Confusing
Do I email my manager when I'm in need of a sub? Once I've got the sub? When I can't get it covered? Or do I reach out in all three situations and cc the world just to make sure? What if you get a sub and then they decide they can't do it and you have to start over? More importantly, stress sets in when you're sitting on the beach during vacation and you're wondering if that sub you barely know will remember to sub your class! Who's responsible for double confirming; is it posted somewhere? We long for a way we can cover our bases on all accounts without too much time and over communication.
Too Much Information To Remember And Retain
The information instructors receive is no doubt important. However, the amount of information that they do receive is tough to manage. Should I print it? Save it? How long do I need to keep it? And, do I really need this information; it's about a format I don't teach? Unfortunately, when it gets too confusing, the information goes to the waste bin and very little is retained!
Managers typically site the following issues with regards to communication in the group fitness setting:
Important Information To Disseminate Throughout The Week
Managers live in the middle: between upper management, members and instructors. The amount of information that is given to the GFM each week can be overwhelming. Trying to decide what information needs to get to the instructor and how timely it needs to be can be an even bigger challenge. A GFM might find themselves stashing nuggets of info to put in the weekly memo or monthly memo to not overwhelm the staff; but … when we hold on to information for too long, the amount of information we try to disseminate can be too much.
Determining The Best Method For Delivery
Managers search for the best place for information to be delivered and housed. Will instructors read it if I email? Does this warrant a phone call or phone tree? Should I make a memo, print it and hang it up or put it in their boxes? How about the top of the stereo and ask each person to initial? Sometimes, we end up using all of the options just to make sure it gets out there. With so many methods for communication the GFMs spend way too much time providing the information to instructors and instructors become desensitized ... where's the important stuff going to be and where should I look first?
|
Don't overload your instructors with too much information. Don't bog them down with more weight than they need to bear.
|
|
Knowing If Instructors Are Reading The Information
With the best of intentions, GFMs continue to put the information out there. But, then, we sit in our office and HOPE that you got it! What if it went to spam? What if they are on vacation and don't check their folders? Maybe I left the message on the home phone and they only check the cell phone? Is there any way to make sure that all instructors are getting the information you are giving them or are you wasting your time with your perfectly penned memos?
Clearly & Concisely Communicating Subs
Subs will always be a source of consternation for GFMs. We trust instructors to get classes covered and communicate adequately. But, where can we house this information so everyone that is involved can find it easily? How can we communicate subs to our members with ease and still keep it up to date (without physically writing it on a dry erase board every day)? And, more importantly, where can another manager find the information should the GFM be out of town or ASLEEP? Organizing sub communication would give the GFM back countless numbers of hours and peace of mind.
Instructors and GFMs would certainly benefit from streamlined communication. A fail proof system for disseminating, filtering, archiving and tracking information that affects everyone in the organization. A few key qualities need to exist for communication to be considered streamlined:
1. Find One Place To Post And Receive Information
One source of communication trains instructors to tap into the resource often and leaves the GFM with only ONE place to input the information (saving time!).
2. Provide Information Daily, But In A Digestible Way
Saving information up for once a week memo or monthly memo creates information overload making retaining the information slim to none. Daily information might prove overwhelming if not done appropriately. If you can provide a way to deliver nuggets of information concisely and provide a resource for reading further when time is available, instructors will learn to review when they can and will be trained to look for information often. All information should be archived.
3. Organize An Easy Tracking Methodology To Keep An Eye On Who Is Receiving Information
Knowing WHO is reading the information you provide is as important as the information you provide. Whether it's initialing, quizzing or some other creative means, you must create a tracking strategy for your sanity. Electronic tracking is the most reliable way.
4. Get Everyone On The Same Page With No Excuses.
If your method of delivering and monitoring communication becomes predictable, trackable and digestible, your team will get, and stay, on the same page. No more crying that the message wasn't received, didn't get the memo, I was out of town … provide a source for your communication that can be accessed anywhere at anytime … Real Time!
5. Track And Reward Teamwork Objectively
If your communication is provided in one location you can begin experimenting with tracking teamwork in an objective manner. Recognize contributions from individuals, provide congratulations when good comments are received or milestones are achieved, and share information among instructors.
Developing a streamlined communication system that meets the above criteria while answering the frustrations of both instructors and managers could take months to develop. Luckily, there is a brand new program that was developed for GFMs by GFMs taking into account all the information highlighted above. A web based communication portal that is easily personalized to meet the needs of your unique team. Check out www.groupexpro.com for more information. Streamlining communication can free you up to teach, mentor and facilitate getting you back to what you do well and what needs to be done to take your team to the next level!
About Shannon Fable
More articles and her contact info, go to about Shannon Fable.
More Like This...
Lack of Time! Perception or Reality
Taking Your Group Fitness Teaching Capabilities Private
Seven Steps to Group Exercise Greatness
Where Fitness Professionals Go To Retool and Recharge
Back to More Articles About Group Fitness
032609
|
|
Reviews
|
Write A Review
|
by
Geoff Hampton
Communication Conundrums of Group Fitness Instruct
|
|
|
|
|