Nineteen years ago, in 1992, Bruce Springsteen released a very popular song giving us one of the clues to building a strong fitness business
For small gyms it’s one of the key things that differentiates them from everyone else.
Big box gyms are envious. They spend lots of money trying to do this one thing that the small gyms do so expertly.
What connects people so closely, and is the superpower of the small gym, is the human connection. More specifically as The Boss sang, “It’s the Human Touch.”
The meteoric rise of CrossFit was attributable, in no small part, to the fist bumping, hand-slappin’, and sweaty hugs of respect and appreciation after those serious and wildly effective workouts.
But what do we do now in the post-pandemic world?
Is it gone forever as a part of our culture of success?
How do we manage and control it? Should we have rules to follow, or just let it evolve over time?
Every location in the country is at a different stage of “opening up.” Every community has it’s own sets of rules and guidelines. Every gym has it’s own culture. Most importantly, every person has their own beliefs and values.
In short, there is not a universally correct answer.
Here are a couple of guidelines that will help you:
Communicate, communicate, and communicate some more. If you feel like you are over communicating you are right on track. Here is what to communicate:
- Keep your people informed about local rules and guidelines as they evolve.
- Keep re-informing people of the safety protocols you have in place.
- Repeat over and over your business guidelines, especially as they change and evolve.
- Reiterate the inclusive nature of your culture, which is to respect everyone’s right to their belief.
- Demonstrate. And encourage everyone, to always ask how the other person feels about a sweaty fist-bump before the knee-jerk reaction to connect after a workout or as a greeting.
- Finally, provide and encourage alternative substitutions that are smaller contacts, such as elbow bumps.
Paying attention to the list above will go a long way to making people feel comfortable when they return to the routine of your programs.
Whether you implement one, two, or all of the strategies above, people will know you truly care about them.
Speaking of implementing strategies, if you would like more strategies to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity we have in the fitness industry, and explode your business NOW, contact me.
Remember, you only get results if you take immediate action on your ideas!
Only the best!
Ron (elbow tapping, fist-bumping, hand-shaking) Gordon
