The last two years as a General
Manager have taught me a lot about
leadership. Some lessons came from
successes. Others came from
situations where I thought, "Well, I
won't do that again."
LESSON 1 -
When I first stepped into the role,
I thought leadership was mostly
about having answers. What I've
learned is that it's much more about
asking good questions, listening,
and helping others find their own
answers. It turns out nobody expects
you to know everything. If they do,
they're going to be disappointed
pretty quickly.
LESSON 2 -
One of the biggest lessons I've
learned is that leadership is really
about people. The budgets, reports,
metrics, and projects matter, but
people are what drive results. Some
of the most rewarding moments over
the last two years haven't been
hitting goals or completing
projects. They've been watching
employees grow, take on new
challenges, and succeed in ways they
didn't think were possible.
LESSON 3 -
I've also learned that clear
expectations solve a surprising
number of problems. Mind reading is
not a job skill. Most people
genuinely want to do a good job, but
they need to know what success looks
like. When expectations are clear,
accountability becomes much easier
and everyone spends less time
frustrated.
LESSON 4 -
Another lesson is that difficult
conversations don't get easier if
you wait. Trust me, I've tested this
theory. The conversation you're
avoiding today is usually the same
conversation you'll have next week,
except now it's bigger, more
complicated, and comes with extra
paperwork.
Culture has become something I think
about every day. It's not created
through mission statements or
posters hanging on the wall. Culture
is built through small actions,
consistency, fairness, and how
leaders respond when things don't go
according to plan. And if you've
worked in fitness long enough, you
know things don't always go
according to plan.
LESSON 5 -
I've learned that listening is one
of the most underrated leadership
skills. Some of the best ideas I've
heard came from team members,
members, or conversations I wasn't
expecting to have. Sometimes the
fastest way to improve something is
simply to ask people what they think
and then actually listen to the
answer.
LESSON 6 -
Flexibility is another skill I've
developed. Every morning starts with
a plan. By noon, that plan has
usually been replaced by three
unexpected issues, a facility
concern, a staffing challenge, and
at least one conversation I didn't
see coming. Learning to adapt while
staying focused on long term goals
has been one of the most valuable
lessons of all.
LESSON 7 -
I've also learned the importance of
recognizing people. Everyone wants
to feel valued. A simple thank you
or acknowledgment of a job well done
can go a long way. People remember
how you made them feel long after
they've forgotten what was discussed
in a meeting.
LESSON 8 -
Perhaps the hardest lesson has been
learning to let go and delegate.
Early on, I thought being a good
leader meant doing more. What I've
learned is that being a good leader
often means trusting others to do
more. Not only does that help the
team grow, but it also prevents you
from answering emails at 10 PM
wondering why you're exhausted.
LESSON 9
Most importantly, I've learned that
leadership is service. It's not
about being the most important
person in the room. It's about
helping others succeed, removing
obstacles, providing support, and
creating an environment where people
can do their best work.
Looking back, I've made mistakes,
learned a lot, and grown
tremendously. I still have plenty to
learn. But if these last two years
have taught me anything, it's that
leadership isn't about having all
the answers. It's about building
trust, investing in people, staying
adaptable, and showing up every day
ready to help your team succeed.
And maybe keeping a sense of humor
when the day doesn't go exactly as
planned.
Active Wellness Center at Kruse
Woods Portland, Oregon,
USA
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