Being a Pilates studio manager can be very rewarding, but when it comes to working with a staff of Pilates instructors, it can also be very challenging. As a studio manager you have a vision and ultimate goal for your studio, and there are many skills you should possess in order to be successful.
The topic of management encompasses a great deal research and theory. One of the areas of research to understand is organization behavior. Organization behavior is a culmination of research that emphasizes the attitudes of groups and individuals, knowledge about and behaviors in organizations.
In managing your organization/Pilates studio, two helpful areas within organizational behavior are leadership and environment.
Let’s first take a look at leadership:
As a manager, your leadership qualities are very important to the success of the studio. Leadership is the ability to direct, coach, support, delegate, motivate, organize and lead staff towards an organization’s goals. It is important to understand that your Pilates instructors are your most valuable asset, if there is successful leadership. You must understand your instructors as a whole in the setting of the studio. Evaluate what they do, feel, and think. Lead your instructors to work interdependently within the operation of the studio in order to attain the overall objectives of the studio which are set by you. Furthermore, continue to work towards creating and maintaining healthy relationships between your instructors and also between your instructors and you so that the overall goals and individual satisfaction are achieved. Individual satisfaction is vital for long term success and instructor productivity and retention.
Now let’s look at work environment:
As a manager, you define what is expected of your staff by communicating your ideas, concepts, goals, and pertinent information. But how about non-spoken communication? The items found in your studio can also define what is expected of them. Interestingly, we are not always conscious of how many things around us affect our behavior. As a leader it is important for you to be aware of how you can influence, motivate, and guide your staff towards your studio’s goals by creating the right environment. Plants, water features, posters, charts, images, painting, written quotes, bulletin boards, lighting, color of carpet, color of walls, stationary, uniforms, and visible mission statement are examples of items which create the environment and culture at your studio. This will subliminally affect your staff’s behavior towards each other, towards you, and your customers. So take time to define who you are as a company/studio and what kind of behaviors you want to draw out of your staff and customers.
As mentioned managing a staff of Pilates instructors can be challenging. However, with great leadership and strategic creation of your studio environment, your management experience will be one of productivity, creativity, and satisfaction for the entire Pilates studio.
Good luck!
Resources: www.organizationalbehaviorcentral.com
- Sonia Rodriguez, Peak Pilates Master Trainer