Affiliate owners work to please every client, but when an athlete is clearly unsuited to a gym, it’s time to take action.
Doug Chapman has seen it all: stalking, rudeness, willful ignorance.
There are many reasons he’s asked clients to leave his affiliate, CrossFit Ann Arbor in Michigan. And since opening the gym in 2005, he’s come to recognize the red flags early.
“When they’re noncompliant for instruction to a class,” Chapman said dryly. “Basically you know when you’re organizing a class … and somebody’s off doing their own thing, talking—it’s disrespectful.”
He added: “It basically detracts from the class, the learning process for everybody.”
When newcomers arrive, Chapman advises his team of coaches to vet them for a good fit.
“People come in with all kinds of goals and ideas of what they expect, but if it doesn’t match, you need to redirect them away from you,” he said.
It’s something nearly every affiliate owner has encountered: Firing a client. Although unpleasant, owners said, it’s necessary for the vitality of your box.
“I hate to see money walk out the door, but I had some people I got rid of in the winter time and I’m just so happy that their negativity is out of my gym,” Chapman said. “Your company is essentially what you are. If we’re not all going in the same direction, get off the bus.”
No comments:
Post a Comment