2 min readEnhancewell
If you’re an owner or manager of a gym, studio, or fitness brand, you likely hold certifications in your organization’s specialty and complete regular training to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and techniques. Focusing on your leadership and communication skills is just as important, if not more important, than the physical side of things. You communicate with clients, vendors, and staff regularly. Are you doing it in the most effective way possible? Muscles aren’t the only things you should focus on growing— clear communication is the building block for solid working relationships. Today, we’ll give you our top tips for enhancing your communication skills with your team.
Build brand awareness
As the owner or manager of a fitness brand, you know the business inside and out. You know why the business was started, and you know the ultimate goal. Don’t keep it a secret. Sharing your brand story with your team offers twofold benefits. It ensures they’ll be good ambassadors when customers ask about the business’s history and gives your team members a sense of belonging as you make them a part of the story.
There’s no such thing as over-communicating
Have you heard of the “marketing rule of 7”? This principle says that a person must hear a message seven times before it sinks in and is retained. And that’s on the low end of the scale. A study by Microsoft found that it took between six and 20 exposures for an audio message to be effective. Don’t assume your team took your message to heart the first time. With consistency in messaging and variation in the method of presentation (email, team meetings, one-on-one), you’ll get everyone on the same page.
Recognize achievements
As you work on your communication skills for overarching strategy, don’t forget to recognize individual accomplishments. Send a quick email congrats or include encouragements in your team meetings.
Be transparent
In an American Management Association survey, 36% of managers, employees, and executives say they “hardly ever” know what’s happening at their organization. Only 9% say they know what’s going on “most of the time.” Trust your team with challenges, opportunities, and strategies to give them a voice in the future of your brand and empower them to take an active role in its success.
Ask for feedback
Communication is a two-way street. As you work on your communication skills, make sure you allow your team to ask questions and share feedback. When you receive suggestions or listen to stories from your team, you’re given the opportunity to strengthen your brand and improve relationships.
Listen
When you ask for feedback, your job is to listen. Don’t defend. Don’t interject. Don’t offer solutions immediately (unless your employee asks for one, of course). Listen. Digest. And make a plan to improve in the future.
Need help improving team communication at your fitness brand? Enhancewell helps businesses just like yours to overcome obstacles and achieve growth. Get in touch with our team today, and find out how to unlock your brand’s full potential.