It’s one thing to hire someone to lead a group fitness class. It’s another to recruit group fitness trainers who are rock stars. That requires a concentrated effort.
Here are three tips to help fill your roster and keep it filled with great teachers:
Reward group fitness trainers
Teacher compensation is important. And rewarding instructors who go the extra mile can be a huge perk to your group fitness offering.
For example, go beyond the base salary and consider an additional reward system. They could get paid per member in their class or see a raise if their classes are consistently filled.
Treating them like celebrities on social media can make them feel good too. Interview them as experts on specific topics or highlight them in meetings to commend them for their teaching.
And make sure you take care of them as a person. Support their interests outside of the studio, whether it’s a race they’re running or to show interest in one of their hobbies.
Tap the correct instructor pools
Ask your current instructors if group fitness regulars stand out. You may have teacher potential. Take a class yourself to assess the member’s qualities, then ask your question. Or have the instructor ask the member if they are interested in teaching.
You can also use social media to find potential candidates. Connect with them on these platforms, share what it looks like to be an instructor in your facility, and post information on “Hire Now”.
Another idea is to check out what local gyms and gyms are doing. What are their instructors like? Which programs are popular? Take classes and assess what makes their group fitness instructors rock stars.
Freedom plus communication
Give your group fitness instructors the reins to be creative with the courses they teach. That trust can go a long way in keeping them employed at your leisure center.
Finally, as their leader, it is important to maintain open communication with your instructors. Make sure you review their needs and help them feel part of the team.
Heather Hartmann is the editor of Campus Rec Magazine. She can be reached at heather@peakemedia.com.
