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POWER

The Power of Personality By Barb Gormley Education and experience are the cornerstones of every great

personal training team. But it’s charisma that keeps clients com- ing back.

Donna Hutchinson knows too well how a bad hiring deci-

sion can create workplace chaos. Several years ago, when she was managing a recreation centre weight room, she hired a personal trainer with a stellar resume. But after just a few days on the job, the new trainer’s oversize ego and critical personality had already alienated her teammates and clients. “It was a nightmare,” recalls Hutchinson, a 17-year veteran of the business who currently spe- cializes in business coaching and consulting for personal training studios and clubs.

Today, many successful hires later, Hutchinson can spot su-

perstar personalities with ease. “The most successful fitness pro- fessionals have a natural ability to want to help others,” says Hutchinson. “They’re the kind of people who open doors for other people,” she says, offering a simple example. “In an interview, they spontaneously praise former colleagues and bosses.”

Scott Sternthal, owner of Montreal’s U.N.I Training, says it takes

him about 30 seconds to recognize people with these outstand- ing interpersonal characteristics. ”It’s all about how they greet you, their confident handshake and eye contact,” he says. “All those things that make a first impression impressive.”

Sternthal is constantly looking for personal trainers with what

he calls “likeability.” He defines this as encompassing characteris- tics like cheerfulness, high energy and an ability to focus on the client. “When I’m interviewing,” he says, “I ask myself ‘Would look forward to getting up at 5:30 in the morning to work out with this person?’”

Jennifer Hewlett, owner of Fresh Air Fitness in Vancouver,

agrees that fitness professionals with sparkling personalities are easy to spot, but not necessarily easy to find. “I’m looking for peo- ple with that ‘it’ quality that people gravitate to,” says “My employ- ees are walking advertisements for my business, and the impact of their personalities is critical.”

BY BARB GORMLEY

D

Hire slowly When there’s pressure to fill a sudden vacancy, hiring people

with lackluster personal skills is a common blund r. Recru ting too well how a bad hir- ing decision can create

onna Hutchinson knows can sometimes win the job.

managing a recreation centre weight room, she hired a personal trainer

managers often feel forced to quickly relieve tressed staff mem- dios and clubs.

excellent credentia s, but l cking in the personality department, years ago, when she was

specializes in business coaching and consulting for personal training stu-

bers who are stretched thin du ing the job search. So a person with workplace chaos. Several

The key to finding employees with both credentials and charis- wimth a stellar resume. But after just a

a, say recruiting specialis s, is to have a strategy in place th t lets few days on the job, the new trainer’s oversize ego and critical personal- ity had already alienated her team- mates and clients. “It was a night- mare,” recalls Hutchinson, a 17-year veteran of the business who currently

22 Fitness Business Canada July/August 2009

Today, many successful hires later, Hutchinson can spot superstar per- sonalities with ease. “The most suc- cessful fitness professionals have a natural ability to want to help oth-

you void these pressure-cooker situations.ers,” says Hutchinson. “They’re the kind of people who open doors for other people,” she says, offering a simple example. “In an interview, they spontaneously praise former colleagues and bosses.”

Education and experience are the cornerstones of every great personal training team. But it’s charisma that keeps clients coming back.

Scott Sternthal, owner of Montreal’s

U.N.I Training, says it takes him about 30 seconds to recognize people with these outstanding interpersonal char- acteristics. ”It’s all about how they greet you, their confident handshake and eye contact,” he says. “All those things that make a first impression impressive.” Sternthal is constantly looking for

personal trainers with what he calls “likeability.” He defines this as encom- passing characteristics like cheerful- ness, high energy and an ability to

OF PERSONALITY

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