Video: Ralph Rajs, VP of Education at Club Solutions Institute, shares insights from the 2025 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat.
Every fitness leader today faces a common challenge: how to attract, engage and retain the right people in a rapidly shifting workforce. At the 2025 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat in Deer Valley, Utah, Ralph Rajs, VP of Education at the Club Solutions Institute, moderated a roundtable that dug deep into the realities of building a dream team.
Using insights from the Workday Global Workforce Report as a starting point, Ralph and a room full of industry executives explored what’s really driving today’s labor market — and more importantly, how club operators can adapt. Here are three of the most important lessons.
1. Too Many Applicants, Not Enough Time
The current hiring landscape favors employers, with more applicants than available jobs. But sorting through stacks of resumes is overwhelming and inefficient.
The solution? Referrals. Leaders agreed that member and employee referrals often yield higher-quality candidates who already understand the culture of the club. Incentivizing referrals — through financial rewards, prizes, or recognition — streamlines hiring and ensures a better fit from the start.
2. Retaining Your Best People Is Harder Than Ever
Ironically, the people clubs most want to keep — high performers — are often the ones most likely to leave. Why? Because they crave growth, development and recognition.
To counter this, clubs need to show a clear career track and invest in continuous education. Whether it’s cross-training staff into new roles, sponsoring them to attend industry events, or providing structured professional development through the Club Solutions Institute, career growth signals a long-term future.
3. Burnout and Disengagement Are Rising
Another challenge is the rising tide of burnout. Employees disengage quickly if they don’t see how their daily tasks connect to a bigger mission.
The key strategies:
- Tie roles to the mission. Help staff understand how their work contributes to the club’s broader purpose.
- Communicate the “why.” When employees see the strategy behind decisions, they buy in.
- Celebrate small wins. Recognizing incremental achievements builds momentum and makes people feel like part of a winning team.
From Retreat to Reality
What happened in Deer Valley was more than just a conversation — it was a roadmap for building resilient, motivated teams. And while retreats spark powerful insights, the real transformation happens when these ideas are put into practice every day.
That’s where the Club Solutions Institute comes in. Our courses are designed to help your managers and staff operationalize these strategies — whether it’s mastering crucial conversations, designing better onboarding or creating a culture that retains top performers.
Because at the end of the day, building your dream team isn’t about chance — it’s about strategy, education and leadership development.
Want to explore how the Club Solutions Institute can help your team? Request a free demo.
