“ The Next HVLC Disruptor...”
dynamics at play, the beekeeper approach focuses on fostering the right environment for the team to thrive rather than attempting to isolate and fix every problem.
While both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses, the beekeeper style is often seen as more effective in the long run, particularly in complex and dynamic environments. It fosters a more engaged and innovative workforce, allowing the team to adapt to change and solve problems more effectively. However, transitioning from a watchmaker to a beekeeper mindset requires a conscious effort to shift from control to empowerment.
How can my organization begin to make the shift?
1. Multi-club leaders can adequately prepare team members who will be transitioning into club and regional leadership roles. A great team member isn’ t automatically a great club manager, nor is a great club manager automatically a great regional or district manager. Too often, new managers are promoted without leadership development or coaching and the result is miscommunication, uncertainty and low team performance. Providing the necessary tools and the right training on topics such as proper time management, directing and measuring work, conflict resolution, and team development, can set your new managers up for success. The competency-based LeadDev program, available through PFU, focuses on building a foundation of leadership skills. The program can help organizations build a bench of home-grown talent, as well as continue the development of experienced leaders who have joined from other organizations.
2. Multi-club leaders can embrace their team’ s intelligence and
acknowledge that the group can often produce better ideas and solutions than an individual leader. This involves actively soliciting feedback, encouraging the sharing of best practices between peers, demonstrating transparency, and showing that feedback is valued by actively listening and acting on it.
3. Multi-club leaders can unify their team around a plan that produces short-term wins and empowers them to hit their goals. KPIs allow us to set meaningful targets and measure progress over time, and involving club leaders in the process of setting and refining them can foster a sense of ownership and accountability. The recently published LeadDev Competency 3.1 focuses on business systems and KPIs and covers topics such as Selecting KPIs, Reporting and Tracking KPIs, Interpreting the Data, Influencing Teams to Improve KPIs, Financial Management Essentials, and more. The Franchisee Reporting Guide, available through FRM, is an additional resource that regional managers and club leaders can take advantage of. The guide contains an overview of how to access the Franchisee Reporting Page, which provides access to a suite of reports sourced from PFCSC’ s Cognos reporting platform and reviews the various reports available.
People can only learn if they’ re given the chance to try. To create these learning and growth opportunities for the various levels of leaders in your organization, ensure that preparation, open communication and empowerment are prioritized, and then, let go of the reins and trust your teams to succeed. G
Rachel Bridges is the Planet Fitness Club Support Center project lead, operations systems. Bridges may be reached at rachel. bridges @ planetcsc. com.
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“ The Next HVLC Disruptor...”
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GearedUp | 2025 Issue 3
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