It’s that time of year again. The leaves have turned, jackets are out and the weather isn’t the only thing that’s cooled… So too have your potential members’ New Year’s resolutions. Winter is traditionally a slow time for gyms, but it doesn’t have to be!
If you’re looking for a way to keep up the momentum and boost gym leads right through the cooler months, it’s worth taking a look at your sales team. Whether you need to refocus their tasks to ensure your staff have time to attract clients or adjust your leadership style to encourage fresh ideas, read on and learn how perfecting your sales team can help you boost your gym leads.
Focus is key
Like all employees, your sales team will be most effective when they are able to maintain a clear focus on the task at hand – driving new memberships. In a gym or fitness centre, this is easier said than done.
What tasks are your sales team responsible for? Is driving leads and encouraging sign-ups their sole responsibility or do they get distracted with other tasks like manning the front desk, giving site tours and training your clients? While there is no question that these jobs are important, (they keep the business running!) if you’re serious about driving new memberships, your sales team need dedicated time to make it happen.
If you need your sales team to multi-task and conduct other activities, make sure you block out time in their schedule to dedicate to finding and contacting leads. Your MyMemberSales dashboard makes this easy by grouping all your active leads in the one place and notifying each team member when action is required.
Shake things up
Looking for a new team member? If your sales team is crying out for a breath of fresh air, it may be time to stop and look at your hiring practices. Do you tend to always source new employees from within the fitness industry? Why not try casting the net a little wider? These days, effective leaders draw inspiration from everywhere, not just within their own industry.
Start by taking stock of businesses you’ve noticed managing the sales process well and work from there. You never know who might be interested in a career change!
Be the leader they need
Real change must come from within. Now, when the Dalai Lama dropped this little pearl of wisdom he was talking about change within an individual, but who’s to say it can’t translate just as well to your gym?
Even the best sales people need leadership, and as the manager, that leadership should be coming from you. If you’ve isolated an area for improvement in your business, it’s up to you to show your team how to go about getting it done. If you’re talking the talk, you better make sure you’re walking the walk.
Welcome new ideas
Effective leaders have one thing in common – they all know their greatest resource is their team. If you want to make sure your business is always on the front foot and overflowing with fresh new strategies to help you do better, tap into your team!
While it’s good to actively ask your employees for their thoughts at team meetings, bear in mind that putting people on the spot isn’t always the best way to draw out those pearlers. If you really want to get the best out of your employees, make sure you are seen as an approachable leader who really values your team’s opinions. Once your sales team know their suggestions are welcomed, sit back and watch those ideas roll in.
