
Use Improv to Enhance Sales Skills and Build Stronger Client Relationships (with Eric Tepper and Mary DeMichele): Episode 532
Explicit content warning
11/14/24 • 45 min
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.
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 CommunityMystery 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 professional...
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.
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 CommunityMystery 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 professional...
Previous Episode

How to Use AI to Streamline Fitness Business Operations and Boost Profits (with Dr Ted Vickey): Episode 531
Are you not sure if AI is right for your fitness business? This episode is a deep-dive into how your business could be using AI to streamline your operations, personalise the client experience, and ultimately improve business efficiency. Host Justin Tamsett speaks with Dr Ted Vickey, a fitness technology strategist, to discuss how AI tools like ChatGPT can help improve your gym or studio. You’ll learn real-life applications and how personal trainers, gym owners and managers are taking advantage of AI today. Listen to this episode and get ready to enhance leadership, drive innovation, and boost profits.
Key Takeaways:
AI's Role in Fitness: AI can automate repetitive tasks, personalise client experiences, and analyse data to inform decision-making.
ChatGPT's Applications: ChatGPT can be used to generate workout programs, create personalised content, and even draft emails.
The Future of Fitness Professionals: While AI can automate certain tasks, it's unlikely to replace the personal touch and expertise that human trainers provide.
Overcoming Misconceptions: The hosts address common misconceptions about AI, emphasising its potential to enhance rather than replace human capabilities.
Our favourite quotable moments:
“When you combine awareness, practice and experience, you’re not just reacting to life, you’re responding and shaping it in the way you want it to look.” - Brian Weaver
“70% of the tasks that you do as a fitness professional can and should be replaced by ChatGPT.” - Ted Vickey
“Let AI do what it’s good at: the repetitive stuff.” - Ted Vickey
“Clients are looking to us as an expert. We need to be able to take AI information and bring it to a level where our clients can understand it.” - Ted Vickey
Resources:
Fitness Business Podcast’s LinkedIn CommunityMystery Shopping for Fitness Businesses - Website
Dr Ted Vickey - LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Fit Well - Website
Fit Well Academy - Website
The Fitness Professionals Guide to ChatGPT by Dr Ted Vickey - Buy now.
First Chapter Giveaway Offer (Connect with Ted on LinkedIn)
Wise Words Guest:
Brian Weaver - Website
In The Trenches With A REXer:
Jason Jaquays-Tarbox - Website and LinkedIn
Sponsor’s Pitch:
Clint with Max Members - Website
Merch Sponsor:
Myzone - Website
REX Trusted Suppliers:
Power Systems - Website
Myzone - Website
MXM Metrics - Website
Digital Revenue Systems - 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, coach...
Next Episode

The Rise of Recovery Spaces in Gyms: What You Need to Know: Episode 533
The recovery industry in fitness is experiencing rapid growth, with experts projecting it to be worth over $90 billion globally by 2027. This episode of the Fitness Business Podcast explores the rising trends in recovery, focusing on popular modalities such as cold plunge therapy and percussive therapy. The discussion highlights how recovery has evolved from being primarily for professional athletes to becoming a mainstream interest for everyday fitness enthusiasts. Factors driving this trend include increased awareness, celebrity endorsements, and a post-pandemic emphasis on overall wellness. The panelists, representing companies like Plunge (makers of cold plunge tubs) and Therabody (known for their Theragun devices), discuss the importance of incorporating recovery spaces in gyms as a member retention tool and potential revenue stream.
Key highlights from the episode:
The recovery industry is booming, with cold water therapy and percussive therapy gaining significant popularity.
Gyms are prioritizing recovery spaces to attract and retain members, as well as to create additional revenue opportunities.
Considerations for implementing recovery areas in gyms include economic models, location requirements (especially for water-based therapies), and compliance with health codes and regulations.
Our favorite quotable moments:
"Recovery has evolved from a world for professional athletes, to a niche interest, to now a booming industry." - Justin Tamsett
"People are paying attention to wellness a lot more than ever before, and I think that the main driver has been from the pandemic and post." - Asher, Therabody
Resources:
Fitness Business Podcast’s LinkedIn CommunityMystery Shopping for Fitness Businesses - Website Anthony Schreiber - LinkedIn Plunge - Website Plunge on Shark Tank - Watch Here Andrew Spellman - LinkedIn Asher Gardner - LinkedIn Therabody - Website, Instagram and LinkedIn Therabody App - Download Here Therabody Reset Locations - Here Therabody in Clubs - Here Therabody Jet Boots with Red Light Therapy - Here Recovery at Brick Bodies - Website EOS Rejuvenate - Here Barry’s Bootcamp Venice - Website Health & Fitness Association - Website
Merch Sponsor:
Anytime Fitness - Website Be a Merch Sponsor - Here
In The Trenches With A REXer:
Matt Remick - LinkedIn Rochester Athletic Club - Website, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram
REX Roundtables - Website and Email
Trusted Suppliers:
Integrity Square - Website Eleiko - Website ABC Fitness Services - Website Budderfly - Website
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, J...
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