A Pilates studio can be such a special place! A place of learning, healing, and growing. A place of personal connections and triumphs. A place that changes lives and a place where both clients and teachers are able to thrive!
But a studio like this only exists when a positive environment and culture has been created. And that begins with us! Pilates teachers, staff members, and owners are the foundation for building a positive studio culture. Then, our clients see the example that we set and join in!
Building this kind of culture begins first and foremost with respect, appreciation, and support among everyone who works at the studio. Each person contributes to their studio culture through what they say and what they do. The owner certainly has the greatest influence and ability to guide others through their leadership. But each teacher or staff member also has an ability to contribute in a positive way to create an incredible studio culture!
Here are some key things that both studio owners and teachers can do to help build a positive culture at their studio.
Owners:
- Generously praise and compliment your staff and teachers. Everyone wants to feel appreciated and respected, and hearing kind words from the studio owner on a regular basis will help make that happen.
- Organize team meetings, social events, and team workout or learning opportunities. Teaching Pilates doesn’t inherently involve working with co-workers so instructors won’t build camaraderie or be able to support one another unless the studio owner sets up events to make that happen.
- Take classes from your teachers. This is the ultimate sign of respect for their teaching skills. It shows the teacher (and clients) that the owner personally enjoys and wants to benefit from their teaching skills.
- Be a sub. Don’t solely rely on teachers to sub for each other. Be the one who steps in and helps out at the last minute when needed. The teachers will appreciate the support and be happier to return the favor.
- Treat your team like your customers. Give them the same positive demeanor, compassion, and support that you give to customers. They will then do the same for you, your team, and your clients.
Teachers:
- Take classes from other teachers at your studio. It shows respect and a willingness to learn from one another.
- Be quick to sub. Because every teacher needs help covering their sessions from time to time! Be willing to make small sacrifices to help out fellow teachers.
- Keep the studio in immaculate condition. Take pride in how the studio looks and keep really high standards for the condition you want to keep it in.
- Keep your ears open to potential client issues. Pilates teachers hear a lot of comments that clients make about anything and everything related to the studio. Keep an ear open so that when you hear comments about a potential issue or complaint, you can speak up and try to help resolve it.
- Be complimentary. It’s not just the studio owner who can praise and compliment studio teachers. There are many opportunities for Pilates teachers to compliment one another, directly and/or in front of clients. It’s such a classy and professional thing to do!
- Workout and learn together. Invite other teachers to attend a workshop with you, organize a buddy/group workout or offer to trade private session workouts with another teacher.
- Participate in staff events. When the studio owner organizes staff meetings, social events, etc., make every effort to attend. These events are vital to the studio’s wellbeing and will allow teachers to develop good professional relationships with one another.
- Chat with your peers when you can. Pilates teachers don’t often get the opportunity to do more than say hello to one another before a session begins or they have to race home. But whenever you have 5 minutes to spare, stick around or get to the studio a little early so you have time to chat and catch up with your colleagues.
- Be positive and contribute good energy. A studio is a place for warmth, compassion, smiles, and laughter. Be someone who contributes these things on a daily basis! And be direct, honest, and private about any issues and problems that may occasionally arise.
Having a positive studio culture is so beneficial for everyone! It allows teachers to teach to the very best of their abilities and grow both personally and professionally. It also gives clients the best possible learning environment and keeps them excited about coming back week after week.
It’s fun and easy to help build a positive studio environment, it just requires a little mindfulness on our part. But the benefits more than outweigh the effort involved, and positive studio cultures will help enhance the Pilates experience and allow us to keep changing the lives of our clients and community!
Dana Auriemma has been studying and practicing marketing for 12 years. With a marketing degree from Penn State University, she launched a successful career in marketing and sales working for Fortune 500 companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, Merck, and TimeWarner. But wanting to use her business expertise for something she was more passionate about, Dana left the corporate world to become a Pilates instructor and open her own studio.