SECTION TWO OPERATING A GYMNASTICS BUSINESS INTRODUCTION An analogy is in order. Is it reasonable to suggest that a level 10 female gymnast who has trained Every person who opens a gymnastics school has a twenty hours a week on vault, bars, beam, and floor unique set of reasons for doing so. The desire to build should also be an expert on the pommel horse? a better mouse trap and/or dissatisfaction with exist- How about a NCAA ring specialist? Should he be ing programs seem to be common reasons for opening able to perform at a high level on balance beam? Of new gymnastics schools. Many coaches feel the need course not; it is all gymnastics but the skill sets do to exercise their own creativity and have more control not transfer. over the direction of their training program. Is it reasonable to suggest that a terrific gymnas- Over the past two decades, the gymnastics industry tics coach, a coach whose gymnasts have won many has grown tremendously. What was once a cottage state titles and who has sent several gymnasts to industry run largely by former athletes as a second job Nationals, should be able to open, run, and man- or a hobby has become a big industry where gym own- age a gymnastics business? Of course not; it is all ers are seeking to earn a comfortable income from a gymnastics but the skill sets do not transfer. primary business. Actually, it is not all gymnastics. Operating a Most gymnastics schools are owned by people who business is one thing while coaching gymnastics is are passionate about gymnastics and who have chalk another. The fundamental goal of a gymnastics busi- dust coursing through their lungs if not their veins. In ness is to make a profit and the means to make that many cases gymnastic businesses are opened by those profit is through teaching gymnastics. who have had some success as gymnastics coaches or Two things; Two skill sets. teachers. This is absolutely normal. But is it enough? 30 Best Practices for the Gymnastics Business CHAPTER FIVE PERSONNEL AND HUMAN RESOURCES HIRING staff these are created for any organization. Use them to help find the right people to hire and hold them ac- The heart of any great organization is the people countable for adhering to these principles. Oftentimes in that organization. Everything begins with the staff. gymnastics business owners hire the coach with the After an extensive hiring process, there is a reason that most skill and background in gymnastics; these people Disney spends five complete days training their employ- may have the skills of the job but not the personality ees before allowing them to meet the public. The staff and character needed to represent your organization that the client sees and deals with on a regular basis is or help you attain your business goals. The key is to the most important reflection of your business. Disney hire the personality and train that personality with the recognizes that the maintenance worker that walks skills of the job. A good staff will be an effective and around the park sweeping and picking up litter is the efficient team working together toward a common most visible front line employee and the one that needs objective. to know everything about dealing with customers, and trains them accordingly. • Honesty – The hallmark of character, honesty is Hiring the proper and correct staff is critical to a the core principle of any employment. successful gymnastics organization. Staff should be a • Respect – Respect must be unconditional. Never reflection of what you want your organization to look allow a staff member to talk down to a parent or like. Your employees need to have similar goals and a child or a co-worker. objectives to you. Surrounding yourself with people who share your vision will create a productive and vital • Open Communication – No matter what the organization. Jeff Metzger of Kids First in Cincinnati, situation; happy parents, unhappy kids, com- OH refers to part of this process as the “hiring man- placent staff – the key is communication. Early tra.” It requires patience and discipline but sometimes communication; don’t wait for big problems; com- the wisest hiring decision is the decision NOT to hire. municate observations (not opinions) often. Be a Hiring the wrong person is always trouble. Hiring the good listener that strives to understand. Focus the right person saves everyone a lot of time and effort in communication on the issue; engage in “critical the long run. conversations.” Your staff will have a number of responsibilities and • Teamwork – Working together toward a com- in return will enjoy numerous benefits. You must expect mon goal defines a team. Every member of your them to act in a professional manner. Hold them ac- team should be expected to contribute to the countable for their actions and behavior and in return success of your mission. you must treat them as a professional. You must also • Growth – Expand personal horizons; continue remember that they represent your organization and education constantly; never stop learning. they will be asked to respond appropriately to many different situations. Hiring the right person is one of • Mission – Staff should be expected to create a the most important decisions a gym owner can make. personal mission statement themselves and then have the integrity to follow it. It should be your Employment principles intent as the employer to hire individuals whose Some refer to them as value statements, but best mission in life will help you reach your vision. practices dictate that employment principles such as 31 Best Practices for the Gymnastics Business Organizational leadership – and love what they do. The challenge is to surround Management studies have shown that supervisors yourself with people who love what they do enough to spend more than 85% of their time on people issues want to raise up to a leadership role. The organization’s and less that 15% of their day on the technical aspects leader then must enable and encourage decision-mak- of their jobs. Wouldn’t we all like to have an organiza- ing, problem solving and autonomy. tion filled with effective staff that worked together To create an organization full of leaders, you must toward higher performance? An organization where begin by being a strong leader yourself. Avoid being people not only saw a job to be done and did it but distracted by the minutia of life. Becoming buried in continually searched out for ways to improve opera- the detail is a sure-fire way of missing the point. There’s tions? We are all looking for an organization filled with a need to focus on the more important strategic issues, leaders. let the front-line worker gain the necessary knowledge The Harvard School of Business has identified 5 and competence to develop the skills to fulfill a more stages of leadership; those who have no leadership rounded role, and deal with the detail. A strong leader skills and only follow leaders, those who lead them- will create a shared vision. selves, leaders of small groups, leaders of large groups, Have a mission and let everyone around you know and those who develop leadership skills in others. It what that mission is. Know what you want to accom- may be tempting to try and surround yourself with the plish and develop a plan to reach those goals. Make first group of people who only follow your lead. Is that sure the objectives are reasonably obtainable. Develop what you are really looking for? An organization where an action plan that is specific with standards that sup- every direction has to come through you and no deci- port the goals and expectations. Once you can articu- sions made or action is taken without your approval? late your vision, you can find people who have a similar Employees should take responsibility for certain daily mission and can help you reach your goals. tasks including refund requests, scheduling decisions, Gym owners typically do know how their business and operational situations to allow owners to work on works best, the mechanics of the way things get done, the vision and action plans for their programs. So how what will work and why some things fail. Spread the do you create leaders that can make good decisions knowledge! It will ensure that decision-making is in- and act with responsibility? formed and well thought out. The best leaders under- True leaders have learned not to confuse activity with stand that they don’t have all the answers; they know productivity. Good leaders not only have developed how to ask the right questions: the organizational and technical skills to be successful • Why do you think that’s a good idea? at what they do but also the skills to deal with many • What would happen if we did that? personalities to get the most out of the people around • Who would be responsible for that? them. Great leaders realize they can’t do everything themselves; that they can do more with the help of Remember, in return, people have a right to ask others. Most importantly, they not only lead, they de- leaders: velop leadership in others. Animals behave in set patterns, which is why we are • What do you believe? able to track and hunt them. Only man has the capac- • What can I expect of YOU? ity to consciously alter his behavior to overcome routine • Can I achieve MY goals by following you? and habit. Most people do not exercise this power. • Have you bothered to prepare yourself to lead? Many people prefer the comforts of routine, giving in • Are you ready to be ruthlessly honest? to our nature that makes us repeat the same compul- • Can I totally trust you? sive actions over and over again.