On Castbox.fm — Justin Taylor | How to Find, Hire, Train, Retain, and Fire Coaches and Staff
How can a growing gym effectively hire, train, retain, and manage staff to sustain long-term success and positive culture?
Developing a team culture strong enough to survive rapid growth requires meticulous planning and personal leadership.
[L]ead by example. Right? So that’s number one. I cannot ask somebody on my staff to do something that I’m not willing to do.
~ Justin Taylor (8:18)
The conversation covers the journey of expanding a gym business from a small operation into multiple locations with large staff. Topics include managing rapid growth, hiring processes, and establishing standard operating procedures to ensure consistency.
Cultural development is emphasized as key to long-term staff retention and gym atmosphere. The importance of leading by example and fostering a sense of community within the staff is highlighted. Personal experiences with hiring missteps and lessons from managing team dynamics illustrate the complexities of gym leadership.
Takeaways
Hiring process — A structured hiring process with standardized steps is essential to avoid legal issues and ensure consistent results.
Staff retention — Retaining staff requires creating a positive culture and treating employees as part of a community or family.
Cultural leadership — Leaders must lead by example, modeling the behavior they expect from their staff.
Scaling challenges — Rapid expansion introduces difficulties in maintaining organizational culture, requiring careful management and strategic onboarding.
Training systems — Developing standard operating procedures helps ensure new staff are trained consistently and effectively.
Personal responsibility — Business owners are ultimately responsible for the livelihood and well-being of their staff, reinforcing the need for careful leadership decisions.
Resources
Parkour Professor — A resource created by Justin Taylor offering mentorship and resources for gym owners.
Firestorm Freerunning — Justin Taylor’s gym brand encompassing multiple locations.
Movement United Gym — A gym in Michigan partnered with Justin Taylor for mentorship and operational support.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
ɕ