You may not think so, but you have a lot of influence. You could be a club owner, manager, or employee with any level of authority, and you’ve got influence — your members likely already draw inspiration and encouragement from you and your attitude.
The book “Search Inside Yourself” by Chade-Meng Tan explores the practice of using your influence — on any level — to positively affect those around you. “You can influence people most effectively when you help people achieve what they want in a way that helps you and simultaneously serves the greater good,” says Tan.
To help you use your influence in a positive way, Tan lays out a “four-step plan for expanding the magnitude and reach of your influence.”
Know you already have influence
“You already affect people,” says Tan. “It is a simple matter of improving what you can already do.”
Whether you realize it or not, almost everything you do is noticed by someone. Through your actions and words — which affect your attitude — you can influence your members’ workout experiences.
Strengthen your members’ self-confidence
“The more you are aware of and comfortable with your own strengths and weaknesses, the more confident you become and the more effectively you can influence people,” says Tan. “Emotionally, people gravitate toward self-confidence, especially the type of self-confidence based on kindness and authenticity.”
Running a business comes with inherent struggles, but it’s critical to not let them drain your confidence. Failures should be seen as learning experiences rather than negative experiences, and the more you embrace them as such, the more opportunities for growth you create for yourself.
As you develop higher levels of self-confidence, you’ll begin to see a trickle-down effect of self-confidence in your employees and your members.
Understand your members and help them succeed
“You can influence people more effectively if you understand them and try to help them achieve their goals in ways that also help you achieve yours,” says Tan.
If you’re working in the fitness industry, it’s likely you already have — at the very least — some interest in helping people live healthier lifestyles.
Seeing your members as individuals with goals, and using your influence to help them reach those goals, will create a more positive environment in your club.
Serve the greater good
“While remembering to take care of your own self-interest, never forget to go beyond just serving self-interest,” says Tan. “Act also for the good of the team, or the good of the company, or the good of the world. Inspire the same in others. When your goodness inspires others, you can influence them more effectively.”
Set aside your own personal goals for a moment. Focus on making sure your members achieve their fitness goals and your employees or coworkers achieve their professional goals. If you shift your focus to creating a more positive environment around you, you’ll find your own needs will also be met.
