Lead by Connecting

Paula Neubert, the president and general manager of Club Greenwood, shares how to lead by connecting.

Our industry is blessed to have generations of leaders who have not only created our foundation but kept us moving forward by continuing to grow and develop every part of our business. Writing this article, I was thinking about IHRSA 2022 and all the amazing leaders I was able to see over the four days.

As I introduced many of these individuals to the Club Greenwood team members we brought with us, these were some of the words that came to mind in describing them: driven, dedicated, passionate, knowledgeable, competitive, loyal, courageous, caring, gracious, empathetic — and the list goes on. But these characteristics are only a piece of what makes a great leader.

One leadership trait that transpires more for me is the ability to connect people. Connecting people creates communities and a sense of belonging to something powerful. Our industry was built on creating relationships and connecting members to one another, to personnel and so on. The past two years, our industry concentrated on different connections: local and state health departments, and state and federal government officials. Once again, our industry leaders stepped to the forefront of that effort and moved the needle further than we ever have. 

There is still so much work to be done, but as I look across our great industry new leaders are being created every day, and the connection of these fresh and creative minds with our established leadership group can truly move mountains. 

If you really want to have influence and change people’s lives, think about your leadership role in our industry and think big. You have a personal stake in making connections within your own company, but expand those connections to local businesses and organizations. Don’t stop there. Reach out to state representatives and fitness businesses across your state to strengthen your efforts and keep going. 

You have the privilege of working in one of the greatest industries on our planet — an industry that can make a positive impact and change the world. Be a leader, make a connection and make a difference.