Use Improv to Enhance Sales Skills and Build Stronger Client Relationships (with Eric Tepper and Mary DeMichele): Episode 532

Use Improv to Enhance Sales Skills and Build Stronger Client Relationships (with Eric Tepper and Mary DeMichele): Episode 532

Author: Justin Tamsett | Fitness Business Leader November 14, 2024 Duration: 45:02

Want to boost your fitness business's sales and communication skills? Think outside the box! Improv is no longer just a drama term; it's a unique strategy that can help you have conversations with better results. By incorporating improv techniques into your sales and service training, you can enhance active listening, build rapport, and handle objections with confidence. By mastering the art of "Yes, And," your team will become more adaptable, creative, and effective in every interaction.

Key Takeaways:

Enhance Active Listening: Improv teaches you how to listen to your clients and members, understanding their needs and concerns. This leads to more meaningful conversations and stronger relationships.

Build Rapport and Trust: By practising improv, your team will develop the ability to connect with people on a deeper level, building trust and rapport. This is essential for closing sales and retaining members.

Handle Objections with Confidence: Improv empowers you to think on your feet and respond to challenges with creativity and flexibility. This will help your team overcome objections and find solutions that satisfy both parties.

Leave us a voicemail!

 

Our favourite quotable moments:

"'Yes, and' is the one rule. And when you do that one rule, you say yes and you get all the benefits." - Mary DeMichele

"'Yes, and"… those two words gain access to the brain, and it balances our nervous system. And when you balance the nervous system, you bring the brain online and you get all those benefits." - Eric Tepper

"Whether we're saying it out loud or we're doing it in another nonverbal way, that 'yes' creates enough safety to help our brain turn back on." - Mary DeMichele

 

Resources:

Fitness Business Podcast's LinkedIn Community
Mystery Shopping for Fitness Businesses - Website
Eric Tepper - LinkedIn
Selling Wellness - Website, Facebook and Instagram
Mary De Michele - LinkedIn
One Rule Improv - Website, Facebook and Instagram

 

Wise Words Guest:

Chris Stevenson - LinkedIn
Marisa Hoff - LinkedIn
The Empower Group - Website

 

In The Trenches With A REXer:

Shania Parker - LinkedIn
Peak Health & Wellness Center - Website

 

Merch Sponsor:

Physiq Fitness - Website, Facebook and Instagram

 

REX Trusted Suppliers:

Max Members - Website
Les Mills - Website
EVOLT 360 - Website
American Barbell - Website

 

REX Roundtables - Website and Email

 

About Your Host: Justin "JT" Tamsett is a seasoned fitness industry veteran and passionate advocate for promoting physical activity. His mission is to reduce the health care costs across the globe by having more people move and move more often.  JT's hope is that his daughter Zoe can grow up in a world full of opportunity rather than one where governments and communities don't have the burden of an ageing and sickening population. With over 30 years of experience, JT has owned gyms, coached fitness classes, and now specialises in business coaching for fitness entrepreneurs. 

Through his company, Active Management, JT provides guidance and support to gym owners worldwide, empowering them to build successful businesses and contribute to a healthier society. He also leads 8 REX Roundtables in the US and Australia, spoken at over 40 conferences in 23 countries, and consulted with gyms worldwide. JT's commitment to improving health extends beyond his professional endeavours, as he has also dedicated himself to coaching various sports and actively participates in industry organisations.

Related: Improv for sales, improv for customer service, improv techniques for fitness professionals, improv for fitness business training, how to improve communication skills in fitness, sales technique for fitness, customer service tips for fitness, leadership skills for fitness managers, build rapport with clients, overcome objections in sales

Please note: We only recommend products we care about (affiliate links support our free content). Thank you for your support!


Running a fitness facility means balancing a dozen spinning plates at once, from member happiness to keeping your team engaged and the bottom line healthy. While plenty of conversations in the industry fixate on getting new leads in the door, Fitness Business Podcast: Leadership, Innovation, and Profit digs into what happens after they join. Host Justin Tamsett, known widely as JT, operates from a core belief: sustainable growth isn't just about marketing, but about mastering the human elements of leadership and creating a business people don't want to leave-neither your members nor your staff. In each episode, you'll hear JT's straightforward, actionable advice drawn from his deep experience as a global fitness business leader. The discussions move beyond theory to tackle the real operational challenges gym owners and managers face daily, focusing on practical strategies to improve member retention, foster a loyal company culture, and implement innovations that drive genuine profit. This isn't a surface-level chat; it's a dedicated resource for those ready to build a more resilient and impactful fitness business. If you're tired of the constant churn and seeking a smarter path to long-term success, this podcast offers the grounded perspective and leadership insights often missing from the conversation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Fitness Business Podcast: Leadership, Innovation, and Profit
Podcast Episodes
476 Larry Levine: Selling From the Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:32
Sales expert Larry Levine was fired from his corporate job at 50 years old. Then...he started a movement. Attention sales leaders, sales people and sales managers. Think about what it would mean to you and your business…
475 The Value Proposition for Pledging Physical Activity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:00
Our country is suffering from an inactivity crisis, and the Physical Activity Alliance has identified a brilliant way to bring awareness to this issue. Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Graham Melstrand, President…
474 Abby Marks Beale: Speed Reading Skills 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:57
Abby Marks Beale spent her adolescence, college years, and 3 years in the business world hating to read. Then, she got a job that completely transformed her attitude towards reading. Dori chats with speed reading expert…
472 Generations in the Gym: Baby Boomers with Dr. Sarah Marion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:22
As we wrap up our Generations in the Gym series, Dr. Sarah Marion is here for our final segment on the Baby Boomers. Dr. Marion shares some insights on what baby boomers are looking for in a fitness program, and how to b…
471 Stripped-Down Content Marketing for Success with John Egan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:34
Are you looking for secrets to content marketing? John Egan, author of The Stripped-Down Guide to Content Marketing, brings infectious energy to this episode on content marketing. John has a fun, but intriguing approach…
470 Your Email List Adds Value to Your Business with Corey Hiben [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:18
In today's episode, learn how your email list can add value to your business, and what's the most common mistake when composing an email. Email marketing has been around for a while, so this is the perfect episode to ref…
469 The Value Proposition for Managing Risk in Your Fitness Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:09
Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Ken Reinig and Rick Mayo about liabilities in the fitness industry today, ways in which Reinig Risk Management can help protect your fitness business and train your staff, and rec…
468 Battlefield Leadership for Your Fitness Business with Jim Czupil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:23
Jim Czupil from Battlefield Leadership delivers a superb episode. Jim is the Senior Business Facilitator for Battlefield Leadership, and he talks about this amazing program that you and your team can experience together.…