Build The A-Team - Set Expectations, Hire Character + Ask Hard Questions

By Alan Shaw, Co-Founder and Head Coach of Rhapsody Fitness in Charleston, SC

Introducing Box Building. Follow Rhapsody Fitness Co-Founders Alan Shaw and Trinity Wheeler as they continue to build one of the fastest growing gyms in South Carolina. Answer the hard questions, explore various approaches, dive into strategy and share lessons learned that go far beyond fitness to be universal across entrepreneurship and startups.

Your greatest assets will always be your people. From the community and collaborators surrounding your business to those working within the four walls, success hinges on the humans involved.

Conversely, mismatched character or misaligned values may become your greatest liability. So choose wisely.

I couldn’t be prouder of the team we have here at Rhapsody Fitness. These individuals are the epitome of hungry, humble, happy, and, most importantly, people smart.

Team Rhapsody at Rhapsody Fitness in Charleston, SC.

Best believe, it took us some time and trials to get here, teaching me three fundamental truths when it comes to building your A-Team.

SET EXPECTATIONS

The first step is setting clear, detailed expectations, from the top-down, for what you want to accomplish with each and every person who comes into the fold.

This approach will not only start you in the right direction in your search for the right fit, but set your new team member up for success.

HIRE CHARACTER, TRAIN SKILL

Once you’ve defined the role and are ready to find your unicorn, I am a firm believer in hiring based on character first with the intention of training skill. A coach through and through, I can teach someone just about anything aside from personality and core values…those are simply DNA-deep.

Making the decision to train skill from the ground up is also critical for quality control. No need to undo bad habits or frankenstein processes, start from scratch and set to your standard.