Kiley Mutschler, a regional manager with Active Wellness, shares how to use the B.L.E.S.S Method to build up community and connection within your team this holiday season.
It’s no surprise the No. 1 indicator of someone’s overall well-being is directly related to their relationships and connectedness to others. Not money, not the house or the car we drive, nor the climate we live in can influence us in such a positive way as our social connection to others. We thrive in relationships and community, yet sometimes, we are not sure how to find that community and connection we crave.
Countless studies and reports have come out recently citing the increase in feelings of loneliness, depression and/or anxiety over the course of the last 18 months. With the holidays fast approaching and a record number of people reporting loneliness, encourage your team to find opportunities to make connections and build on that member experience by developing more interpersonal relationships. As their leader, make your best efforts to foster an environment where people, relationships and connectedness are more valued than the sales.
Remember, clubs are not just a gym anymore. We should be taking an approach to support not only the physical health of the member but the whole person, including contributing to their overall happiness and mental fortitude.
Build a Community Using B.L.E.S.S.
When your team feels connected in the workplace it provides them the ability to also ensure your members feel welcome and connected. In fact, employees who identify they have at least one friend at work are more likely to be successful, engaged and committed to their job and organization.
Building a community takes time and effort. We all have different life experiences but if you can provide a place where there is a common goal, focus or energy, you can create a space for your team and your members to thrive.
Using the B.L.E.S.S Method to build up your community and connection this holiday season:
- Be Thankful: Gratitude is a powerful tool at no cost to you. How are you going to make sure your team and your members know you are thankful for them?
- Listen and Learn: Take the time to listen and learn about your team and your members. How are you spending your time so others know they are important to you?
- Eat (with strangers): Have a meal with your team, a time to disconnect from work, and get to know them personally. Encourage everyone to bring a plus one and focus on connection over a meal.
- Serve: Service is our priority and the area we should excel. Consider hosting a member/community event or organize a volunteer activity within the club, serving meals to others and/or helping deliver meals to the elderly.
- Share: Share your gifts and your services. Identify a cause that is important to your team and members and find opportunities to share your services where possible.
Think about this as a way to build community not just at the holidays or when needed the most, but at all times throughout the year. So how will you B.L.E.S.S. your team, members and your community?
Be the reason someone has a great holiday. Be the place someone can go and feel welcome and be celebrated. Make a difference. Make a connection. Build a community.
Happy Holidays!
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Kiley Mutschler is a regional manager with Active Wellness, overseeing corporate and multi-tenant fitness centers in Texas, Arizona and Canada. She has over 10 years of experience managing people at all levels; responsible for hiring, training and building strong teams within the organization. Kiley has held many roles within Active Wellness and was named an IHRSA Rising Star in 2019. She can be reached at kiley.mutschler@activewellness.com.
