Hey Everyone!
“Firing Clients” is a part of running a great community. If you don’t pull the weeds out of the garden, they will choke the harvest of awesome humans you are growing.
That said, it is never easy. Many times, these clients have many friends at the gym, and if you come at it the wrong way, it can turn ugly, fast (rumors, bad reviews online, etc.).
First and Foremost
This should always be a private one-on-one discussion in person. Email and phone may make it ‘easier’ for you, but it will almost always go awry on their end. Chances are, you have already had discussions with them about their behavior and it shouldn’t be a complete shock to them.
When possible, you should have already laid some groundwork ahead of time. Boundaries that, if they crossed, would mean that your professional relationship would end. Things that they agreed to. This will make it more about their actions, and less about your opinion.
As a reference, check out the "Crucial Conversations" book for having tough conversations in general! (there are some good summaries online, but the book is the best).
Ultimately, it is best if you can help them understand that their vision and goals aren't in line with the gym’s, and that there is nothing wrong with that! That their behaviors clearly demonstrate that they aren't on board with what you guys are doing, and that it is best if they are 'released' to go pursue their passions somewhere else.
Make it seem like it was their decision and not yours.
It will be VERY hard on your ego, but if you can protect theirs (by saving them face and giving them an ‘out’), you are much more likely to have them leave on good terms. Try to make it a positive for them.
Stick to the facts and leave emotions out of it (no matter how emotional it is for you). DO NOT talk about them as a person (making them feel attacked), but how their actions have caused you to come to this conclusion.
Publicly
You should always take the high road. Wish them the best, and talk about how 'disappointed' you were that it 'didn't work out'. Slagging them or talking about how happy you are that they are gone should not be part of your dialog with other members!
Lastly, do not wait.
Rip the band aid off and move on. If it has gotten so bad that you have to fire them, you have already anguished enough over the relationship. Look forward to being able to focus on the people that love what you do!
Thrive on.
-jj
What I am reading/watching (content for you or to share on your social media):
Everything We Know About Treating ACL and Tendon Injuries Is Wrong – Outside Magazine
Most therapists are compensated to get people back to zero. But what if that ‘zero’ is actually bad long term? The body is amazing at compensating for injuries, but it may need to be re-trained so that it can un-do the bad habits, and become better than before the injury!
"Yes" to the Person, "No" to the Task – Mind Tools
Refusing a task should be separate from the relationship. This is especially true when ending a professional relationship (like firing a client).
Obesity now kills more people worldwide than car crashes, terror attacks, and Alzheimer's combined – Vox
“Since 1980, the obesity prevalence has doubled in more than 70 countries around the world — mainly in low- and middle-income regions — and it has steadily increased in nearly every other country…”
ANCIENT TEETH – Catalyst
“As a society, we spend a staggering amount looking after our teeth. You might think dentistry is a triumph of human progress. But is it? Judging by skeletons from the past, our hunting and gathering relatives simply didn't need dentists…”
High cholesterol 'does not cause heart disease' new research finds, so treating with statins a 'waste of time' – Telegraph
“Published in the BMJ Open journal, the new study found that 92 percent of people with a high cholesterol level lived longer…”
Habits vs Goals : A Look at the Benefits of a Systematic Approach to Life – Farnam Street
“Habit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do).”- Stephen Covey
On to the Programming!
VIDEOS:
Monday: 170710 Triad Athleon -
Skill practice warm up notes, CrossFit Classic, Taking time to go over technique, waves if you don’t have enough rowers, letting people change the order if all of the rowers are taken, weekly overview
Tuesday: 170711 Red Packard -
Coaching the front box squat as three movements, strict pull up progression notes, who should be allowed to do oly lifting in metcons, time guide for today’s programming
Wednesday: 170712 Without Me -
Competition context, musical references, axle deadlifts vs single leg deadlifts, grinders vs gassers, mobilizing the hips and ankles for toes to bar
Thursday: 170713 Gadzooks -
Ring out notes, mobility for squatting, wall ball tips, hands off deck push ups, ring dips instead of push ups as a scale up
Friday: 170714 Beat to Quarters -
Changing the order of the mobility, pistol notes, Testing the jerk and grouping people up, time guide and what if you don’t have enough rowers, scaling notes and having people start with more difficult variations, when cash outs are good
Saturday: 170715 3 rd Wheel -
Time guide for today’s programming, movement basics, splitting the workout properly, team workouts don’t necessarily mean less rest, letting people ‘shine’ on the movements they can do, even beginners contribute on team workouts
Sunday: 170716 Classic Street Fighter -
A lot of talk about Mental Toughness, why push presses now, how to do single leg deadlifts with beginners, notes on scaling kb swings, double under progressions
GYM PROGRAMMING