One of the most common challenges we’ve heard about 2021 for gym, swim school, and dance studio owners is staffing. From finding good quality staff to onboarding new staff and then retaining them long-term, staffing remains a challenge that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
Enter 3rd Level Consulting, one of the many friends and partners of Jackrabbit Class.
As an important leader in our industries, Frank Sahlien founder and CEO of 3rd Level Consulting, recently hosted a 3-part web series to help owners and managers like yourself when it comes to staffing. If you missed the series, you can check out their blog for access to transcriptions and on-demand viewing!
Take me to the 3rd Level Consulting blog
The complete guide to staff training and retention
Finding and hiring the right people
Before you can worry about how to train your staff and keep them happy, you have to find the right people you want to add to your team of awesome staff members.
- What characteristics are most important to you when looking for new employees?
- What role would your new staff member take on?
- What tasks would they be responsible for?
If you aren’t sure of these answers, it’s going to be even more challenging to find the perfect fit. Create a job description and desired traits for the person you are looking to add to your team.
Once you’ve put that all together, it’s time to get the word out! The more places you post this position, the more candidates you will find in your search. Think of internal candidates, referrals, and outside sources so you aren’t ruling anyone out before you even start. (—>Check out more details for finding exceptional employees here)
Now it’s time to start interviewing! In some cases, you may need to hold multiple interviews for the same candidate. It’s a great way to bring in some of the staff members they would be working closely with to see how they connect and communicate. Not sure what questions to ask? Our friends at 3rd Level Consulting included example questions here.
When you’re ready, it’s time to make the offer! Be sure to include the total compensation package – it’s much more than just the monetary benefits. It’s always a great idea to remind your candidates of the other financial benefits you offer and those perks that don’t have a price tag at all.
Onboard new staff successfully
It’s your new employee’s first day on the job and you want to make a great first impression. Having a plan of action will take the stress off you and your new staff member from the start. Things to think about include:
- Who is going to train your new staff member?
- If multiple people are training your new hire, who will be in charge of which topics?
- What is your ideal timeline to have this person up and running?
- What is their long-term training plan, including professional development?
Setting the expectations from day one will make it easier for you and your new employee as you work through the onboarding process.
Jackrabbit Class has a staff training system that is a great tool to help you onboard new staff members that will be completing daily tasks in your Jackrabbit application. The training system is an online, on-demand system complete with lessons, practice activities, quizzes, and certification for your new staff member to work through at their own pace.
Retaining staff long-term
After finding the right people, hiring the best in the business, and training new staff, the last thing you want to do is lose the talent you’ve worked so hard to find – am I right?
So, how do you make sure your team is happy and loyal? To get you started, think about things like:
- What are some extra financial incentives you can provide?
- What opportunities are there to be promoted at your youth activity center?
- How can you recognize employees for going above and beyond?
- How can you set your staff up for success with consistent training and professional development?
- How do you include the importance of your culture and core values throughout your environment?
For more details on how to keep your employees engaged and happy in order to retain them long-term, watch the full on-demand session from Frank and his team at 3rd Level Consulting.
How to get started with your staff training and retention plan
It all starts with a plan. What does your ideal staff journey look like? If you can map out what it would look like to recruit, onboard and retail a staff member for five years, we encourage you to do so.
Realizing that not all youth activity center owners have that time on their hands, 3rd Level Consulting is a great resource when it comes to staffing.
Interested in learning more on how they can help you find the best staff and keep them coming back season after season?
Schedule your free 30-minute consultation now!
