Kiley Mutschler, a regional manager with Active Wellness, shares insights for health club owners on combatting the loneliness epidemic.
With the country suffering from a loneliness epidemic, how can we do our part to bridge the gap and help drive better health outcomes for our team, members and community? The loneliness epidemic has not only a mental health impact but a physical health impact as well, leading to premature death, higher rates of heart disease, stroke and dementia.
When it comes to connection with others, the quality of our connection also matters. As humans we need to have meaningful relationships, shared experiences and create memories that grow fonder over time. We can use the moments we foster within our clubs to help cultivate these deeper connections amongst our team, members and prospects.
Tell a Good Story
Who doesn’t love a feel-good story? A story that’s relatable and uplifting. A story that allows us to feel connected and seen. These stories are all around us and often in our marketing or promotion we focus on the stories with only the physical results. But in truth, there is so much more that connects us as human beings and we need to do a better job of sharing those stories.
We talk about the fitness industry not being solely focused on physical health anymore but encompassing the whole person. The number of lives we’ve changed inside of our clubs range from people beating cancer, overcoming addiction, battling Parkinson’s and even meeting their life partner. All of these life victories have a deeper and more meaningful impact on health than only the physical results.
Our health clubs are full of stories from our team and our members that we’re not always capturing and showcasing. In order to know what story you can tell, it starts with asking the right questions. From there, it’s building trust and developing those relationships from the start of their journey. It goes back to caring for your team and members and creating a safe space to share both their struggles and successes.
Celebrate the Accomplishments
Not everyone has a grand story to tell but that doesn’t mean they haven’t experienced success or accomplished a feat. Accomplishments are never too small to be celebrated and shared with the community in your health club. Whether it be a team member who received a new certification, a member who completed their first cycle class, or a friend group that emerged after Zumba, these are all things to be recognized, praised and most importantly, shared.
We often sell ourselves short of those little things because they feel expected, too easy or someone else has done more than we have. As a leader, instructor, coach or as a peer, you can make it part of your core values to praise people in those moments and make them feel seen and celebrated. Create a community where everyone feels recognized, respected and inspired. Before you know it, those little accomplishments can lead to a greater story to share than you could’ve ever imagined.
“We are hard-wired to connect with others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering.” – Brene Brown
