FBC


UPFRONT» Management


Your People Are Your Brand


Employee training is always worth the investment


BY PAULA COMFORT I


n this fiercely competitive market, companies everywhere are reorga- nizing and cutting back. They’re also not investing in their clubs or,


most importantly, their people. Wrong! There is a direct correlation between


team member and club member reten- tion. Companies that invest in their people have lower turnover, a culture of high performance and better profits. What are your people development


plans for 2018? Do you have a budget and a plan in place?


“A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected.”


14 Fitness Business Canada November/December 2017 Here are some creative ways to in-


vest in your team members this com- ing year.


1. Take them out for dinner or lunch after a great month or milestone.


2. Send them to a TEDx Talk. 3. Give them a day off to shop the competition and work out.


4. Send them flowers, a card or a bottle of wine.


5. Take them to an industry conference.


6. Invite them to be part of a steer- ing committee or Mastermind group.


7. Give them a long weekend. 8. Give them a gift certificate to a spa or restaurant.


9. Allow them to do an online psychological profile such as Meyers-Briggs or DISC.


10. Provide them with an executive coach for six weeks.


11. Spend time with them training on a topic unrelated to their role.


12. Buy them a great leadership or sales book.


13. Give them a bonus to reward good work.


When you develop and invest in your


people they tend to move up to the next level, leave a trail of knowledge behind and create a pipeline of leaders within your organization. Therefore, promot- ing employee development makes good business sense. It not only improves pro- ductivity and performance capability but also builds loyalty and improves em- ployee retention.


Paula Comfort has 20+ years of experience in the fitness in- dustry. Most recently she was managing director of Fitness for Spa Chakra Inc., a luxury spa and health club company where she started the division.


Previous roles include area vice-president of The Sports Clubs of Canada/Bally Total Fitness. She is currently a partner in her own consult- ing company, 360 Impact Group. Contact her at paula@360impactgroup.com or 416-565-6025.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40