As a fitness professional, many trainers and teachers may decide to put away their cross trainers and enter the realm of management at some point in their careers. Before you make the leap from studio to desk, here are some of the challenges you might encounter.
Education – this is first and foremost. I would recommend having at least a bachelors in a related field – health and wellness, exercise sciences, business management, etc. Having a background in both fitness and management is definitely a plus, but not always necessary.
You need management experience to become a manager – this is not uncommon in may fields, but can be ironically frustrating. How do you get management experience to become a manager if you aren’t given the opportunity? My suggestion is to think on a smaller scale initially -get your foot in the door teaching/training (even if it’s just one class or client.) Often times management roles go to internal potential candidates before they are offered to external sources, even if they don’t have all the necessary credentials. Also consider hourly and part time positions that assist the role of fitness director, such as administrator, coordinator, or assistant. Then if a management position ever becomes available, you have some (if not all) of the needed skills to apply for this position.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions – Seek out mentors who have experience in fitness management. Pick their brain regarding their experience getting started and what did and didn’t work. If you happen to be interviewing for or offered a management position, I would recommend asking questions of the previous director and/or fitness superiors for clarity – especially if this a position you’ve never done before. Asking poignant questions will not only make you seem engaged in your role, but it will also give higher ups the impression that you are detailed and strongly interested in being successful as a fitness director/manager.
Shannon's Writings 