Building a Future-Ready Team of Fitness Instructors for Your Studio’s Growth

Learn to Identify and Attract Top Talent

Hiring great fitness instructors goes beyond seeking enthusiasts; it requires looking for charisma, coaching skills, and technical expertise. Recent research from Les Mills reveals that 42% of potential instructors are men, challenging the stereotype of a female-dominated field. You can discover a wider pool of candidates by expanding your search to include local sports teams, personal trainers, and social media influencers; tapping into your studio’s community; and using referrals, social media, and local networks.

Moreover, clear career growth pathways are essential for attracting the next generation of instructors as they are seeking more than just a side gig—they want a meaningful career. Offering structured training, mentorship, and advancement opportunities makes your studio more appealing to younger talent. Keep in mind that candidates are more likely to choose your studio if they see the growth potential, whether through professional development or leadership roles.

Overcome Recruitment and Retention Challenges

Once you’ve found top talent, the next challenge is keeping them engaged. Many studios struggle with unclear expectations and inconsistent performance standards. To avoid this, use performance-based pay, non-financial incentives, and trial periods to ensure a good fit. 

Retention also depends on building a strong team culture: Creating a supportive environment where instructors feel valued and have opportunities for personal development is key to retention. Offering recognition, team-building activities, and development programs can help keep both part-time and full-time instructors engaged. And remember that a few high-quality instructors can create a positive feedback loop, attracting more talent through word-of-mouth.

Build a Sustainable Recruitment Strategy

To create an effective recruitment strategy, focus on:

1. Understanding Who You’re Looking For: A Les Mills study identified that strong candidates often take group classes regularly (49%), are men (42%), and actively share their fitness journey on social media (58%).
2. Knowing Where to Find Them: Les Mills highlights the importance of tapping into your studio’s community, local athletic groups, and using social media networks to expand your search.
3. How to Recruit Them: Les Mills findings emphasize offering career growth, structured mentorship programs, and addressing training barriers to attract and secure top talent.

Les Mills has created a next-gen recruitment blueprint, which includes an implementation checklist to help fitness studios build tailored recruitment strategies that suit their unique needs.

Recruiting and retaining the next generation of instructors is essential for long-term success. If you want to create a strong, future-proof team, understand what motivates potential instructors, offer growth opportunities, and build a structured recruitment plan. Cultivating a positive team culture and setting clear expectations will keep your instructors engaged, ensuring your studio thrives for years to come.

Discover even more valuable insights and actionable strategies and gain access to Les Mills full report by watching the full webinar now!