Chris Ryan says, ’Let’s Talk Tactics’

In a taster exert from the opening keynote speech which he will deliver to delegates at the 4^th annual FIA Flame Conference in Sheffield next, SAS hero Chris Ryan talks about how his team’s tactics could switch from stealth to violence in a blink of the eye, and how they had to be able to adapt to any situation in order to survive…

“When I was undergoing SAS continuation training, it was drummed in to all of us that the role of a special-forces operator is twofold. Sometimes we would be sent in to gather information: this meant putting in an observation post, lying low, watching and waiting. When that was the case we’d need to go in light – armed, of course, but only with the precision tools we needed for the job. Our role was to stay invisible.

“To do our job with the minimum of fuss and without anybody knowing we were there. If we were compromised, our tactic was to ‘shoot and scoot’ – to engage the enemy if necessary then exfiltrate as quickly and stealthily as possible.

“Sometimes, though, we’d be looking for a fight. If our orders were to take out personnel or installations, our tactics would need to be altered accordingly. Stealth would still be the order of the day at the beginning of the operation. Often we’d be setting up an ambush, so it would clearly be essential that we worked silently and without being seen. If it was possible to take out any of the enemy clinically, with suppressed weapons and without alerting anyone to our presence, we’d do that. One less person to worry about later on.

“At some point, though, we knew things would go noisy. When that happened, the tactics changed. Stealth was no longer our best friend; violence was. We’d use all the weaponry at our disposal to eliminate the enemy completely, or to destroy their installations. If things went according to plan, the operation would go noisy at a time and place of our choosing. Good for us. Bad for the enemy.

“Tier 1 operators need to be equally skilful with the scalpel and the hammer. They need to be the Grey Man, able to merge into the background – which is why a lot of the operators working in Afghanistan wear beards, so they don’t stand out when they’re among the locals in-country. But when the situation requires it, these men must be able to bring all the most brutal forces of war to bear in order to overcome the enemy and achieve their objectives…”

The battle field may be a long way from the gym floor, but the lesson we can all learn as professionals  from Chris, aside from sheer courage and perseverance, is adaptability. As the saying goes, all failure is failure to adapt.

You can hear more of Chris’ extraordinary story at the FIA Flame Conference on 27^th June, Sheffield. Places are going fast so book now.

Follow Flame Conference on Twitter @FIA_Flame, #tametheflame

Hooray for Hollywood…

I’ve just stepped off the plane, back from a brilliant week at IHRSA in not so sunny Los Angeles.  My IHRSA highlights included Simon Sinek’s session on leadership to inspire action, and the debut of ground-breaking new fitness equipment offerings including the Life Fitness  Synrgy360 and the Les Mills SMARTBAR.

The FIA hosted a packed schedule of social events for delegates, including a relaxed welcome reception on the first night and a day out in LA, taking in Beverley Hills, Mulholland Drive and Universal Studios (not forgetting lunch at the Hard Rock Café, sponsored by LIW). The week culminated in a ten-pin bowling session at the sophisticated Lucky Strike LA, where over 70 industry peers joined us to celebrate the end of a great week.

In addition to our annual trip to IHRSA, the FIA has had a very busy couple of months since my last blog post.

On the public affairs front, we marked one year of the Government’s Responsibility Deal and our efforts to promote physical activity through working with corporate partners. I also gave evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Body Image on the role of the FIA and physical activity in promoting body confidence and self-esteem. The FIA also hosted the Vanguard Council and Conservative Party Dinner in February, where FIA members were joined by Parliamentarians plus delegates from key organisations including the Royal College of Nursing, Chartered Socity of Physiotherapists and the Big Lottery Fund.

Les Mills UK have come on board as Vanguard Members and I joined Les Mills International CEO Phillip Mills on a UK Roadshow last month, which culminated in hosting a panel discussion at Lords' Cricket Ground about ‘The Future of Fitness’, with panellists including Carl Liebert, Fred Turok and Craig McAteer We visited some iconic sporting venues and have had some great feedback from those who attended.

At the beginning of March the FIA also hosted its quarterly Communications Forum, which this time focussed on the speakers' dos and don’ts of using social media; look out for a guest blog post from Comms Forum chair and FIA board member Sue Anstiss next week.

Finally, we have just opened online booking for the 2012 FIA Flame Conference, which will be taking place in Sheffield on 26^th and 27^th July. Watch this space for blogs from some of our inspiring speakers, including keynote speaker Chris Ryan, who will be giving a taster of their conference sessions.

Sprinting into 2012

Well, our Olympic year is finally here. And whilst it we may only be three weeks in to January, it’s all systems go at the FIA, where we already have lots to look forward to over the coming months.

Amid the predictable media flurry of January fitness fad stories, the FIA has sprinted into the new year, with the nationwide launch of a health and wellbeing programme with a difference.

A fantastic corporate partnership kicked off this month between the FIA’s Shift into Sports programme and the UK’s largest entertainment and communications company, Sky - a partnership that delivers a newly engaged audience to health and fitness operators across the country. 

We launched Shift into Sports in 2010, in partnership with Sport England, the Mayor of London, Addison Lee and our technology partner Haulmont. The programme offers sport and fitness activities supplied by FIA members, at reduced cost and off-peak hours to suit shift workers. The involvement of Sky now takes this nationwide – rolling the programme out to nearly 17,000 Sky employees.

It really is a win—win situation for all: employees can access brilliant fitness deals which fit around their shifts; their company benefits from happy, healthy and productive employees as a result and FIA members gain the opportunity to increase their footfall during off-peak hours.

Partnerships such as this will be key to the work of the FIA and our industry over the coming year, as all eyes turn to the UK to see whether we can deliver on ambitious Olympic legacy targets. Watch this space for announcements about future projects and partnerships which will mean we can rise to the challenge.

This month we also announced the dates and venues for the FIA’s annual Flame Conference, which will take place on 27th June. Any previous Flame Conference delegate will tell you – this is an event not to be missed! This year Flame is coming to Sheffield – where the magnificent Magna Centre will host the main conference. Of course, there is also the FIA Golf Day on 26th June (start practising that swing now!) and the Ball of Fire – I am already looking forward to being on stage to announce the winners of this year’s Flame Awards.

Finally, as the now world-renowned and instantly iconic London 2012 brand takes over the UK as the Olympics hots up, the FIA’s rebrand exercise will be in full swing, as we look to better position ourselves for what the physical activity sector can achieve in 2012 and beyond.

I hope you will follow myself and guest bloggers from the FIA team over the next 12 months. You can also join me on Twitter and LinkedIn – remember folks, the future is digital!

From Expert to Facilitator

- Fiona Cosgrove -

I recently attended a conference in Boston entitled Coaching in Leadership and Medicine.

The sessions intertwined theory from systems therapy, executive coaching, immunity to change models and ground breaking research in positivity.

The theme throughout was that a good coach needs to increase self-awareness in the client and help them to take responsibility for their own outcomes.

It matters not whether the objective is to increase productivity or decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, if the end result involves behavioural change (which becoming a regular exerciser does) then helping people to identify and eliminate psychological as well as physiological obstacles is essential.

The fitness industry is crying out for a new teaching model and if exercise professionals can just shift their mindset from being the expert to being the facilitator of change then wellness coaching may just be it.

Australian Fiona Cosgrove is a leading international wellness coach. She is presenting at the FIA Conference in Telford on Wednesday July 13th.

FIA Flame Conference – “Creating Connections – The Key to our future”
Wednesday July 13th at the Telford International Centre.
Click here to book your place now!

All I want for Christmas….

With Christmas fast approaching, you may be surprised to hear that the Flame Awards are at the top of my priority list and indeed many of the Industry’s finest!

There’s just a final few days to take advantage of the discounted early bird entry fee so clubs are busy finalising their entry forms, hopeful to remain in the competition until that adrenaline-fuelled final stage – the Flame Awards Ceremony on 13th July 2011; where the winners will be crowned!

Flame began over 15 years ago, born out of a need to recognise those in our industry that are a beacon of Fitness Leadership and Management Excellence.

Over the years, winners have varied and competition has heightened – turning the Flame Awards into the most prestigious and desired in the industry!

Attending some site visits last year (which take place in Stage 2 of the assessing process), it was staggering to experience the intricate planning that sites put into their assessment day. The motivation, energy, eagerness to please and sheer pride is absolutely phenomenal – you really have to admire the professionalism of our assessors that are forced to compare these clubs and not come to the conclusion that everybody should be a winner! With standards so high across all entrants, every single point really does count…

Dawn Spink, 2010 Flame Winner for Club of the Year, The Valley Health & Fitness at EIS Sheffield said:

“Winning was a great achievement for us and the fitness team at EIS. We were short listed the year before, but winning last year showed just how much we improved – enough to win!

After receiving feedback from the Flame assessors, we improved our programme cards by working with head office to change the format. By getting to the final, we learned from the customer satisfaction surveys to improve on our more social aspects and now we do member football tournaments! We have also implemented classes into our timetable; things like outdoor military fitness classes.

My advice to hopefuls is to keep trying and really motivate your team. Make it the best time it can be by including the members, making sure they know it’s their gym, not yours and therefore a reward for both of your hard work!”

So, what are you waiting for? Send me your entry form now!

Merry Christmas,

Hayley Bevan, Events & Sponsorship Manager at the FIA
Email: Hayley@fia.org.uk

The LIW Countdown….

Guest blogger Hayley Bevan, The FIA's Events and Sponsorships Manager, counts down the days until Leisure Industry Week 2010 (21st - 23rd September, NEC Birmingham)

The biggest gathering of the health and fitness sector is just around the corner and we at the FIA can’t wait to get back to the NEC!

After over a year of research, debate, consultation and industry-wide feedback, Dave Stalker and the TwentyTen Commission Panel will be announcing the industry’s five year strategy on Tuesday morning in the opening keynote. Something we at the FIA feel very strongly about, it will provide vision and recommendation around the 5 key cornerstones: Community Hubs, Work Place Activity, Data and Consumer Insights, Exercise as Medicine and Up-skilling the Workforce. Devised to generate positive outcomes and direction for the industry, we hope you will join us at the start of the industry’s new journey. How exciting!

Expertly delivered education will of course be on the agenda this year, with something for every single one of us.

The largest gathering of Independent Operators ever has dictated the provision of a specially tailored day of seminars, looking at various topics, all in response to the challenges that independent operators have voiced they face.  Following the age-old “work hard, play harder” life motto – the FIA/IOU members will be found sipping cocktails and chilling out at a rather exclusive bar in the evening - let it not be said that those CFM boys don’t know how to party!

Following fantastic feedback on speakers at the Flame Conference earlier this year, we’re bringing some of them back for follow-on education at LIW!  Personally I can’t wait to hear what else Pete Cohen has to share – his wisdom on happiness was well received in Cheltenham and this time he’ll be looking at how to become ‘exceptional’ – I wonder what that entails!  Joining Pete are Sue Anstiss, Keith Burnet, Georgina Jupp, Michael Crowe and Mark Talley who will each provide insight and debate from their field of expertise.

The FIA has also teamed up with Sport England to host a day of seminars which will look at our industry’s crucial contribution to the Olympic legacy – less than 2 years and counting, the partnership couldn’t have come at a better time…..  Our expert panel will advise on how we can position ourselves as a KEY Olympic partner and what this means for the industry.

Those of you who attended the Ball of Fire in July will understand the sheer competition and motivation that fuels the prestigious annual Flame Awards – and the tension and anticipation that finalists feel as Dave utters those promising words “and the winner is…”.  I am delighted to announce that Flame 2011 will launch at LIW this year and that gruelling (yet enlightening) process of excellence can build again for all who enter! 

As always we assume that everyone else takes as much pleasure in social opportunities as we do, which is why we will be buying everyone a drink after the first day of the show!  Matrix and Active IQ have graciously sponsored the FIA Drinks Reception this year, giving members the chance to debrief with colleagues, peers and a special celebrity guest….

As you can see, it’s an action-packed LIW this year, so whilst you get to work planning your itinerary, so shall we! 

For more info on the FIA’s schedule of events visit our website, otherwise I look forward to seeing you there!

Hayley Bevan

The Conference that will take you into the next dimension

Today, I felt as if I was on the flight deck of the Star Ship Enterprise.

Less than a week to go to the Flame Conference and we've just hit the Warp Speed button: the stars have turned into streaks of light: the staff of Star Ship FIA have pinned their ears back and the old bus is rattling as we travel at the speed of light.

I know when we arrive at Planet Cheltenham, the air will be pure and intergalactic attendees (drawn from the four corners of our solar system. The Fitness Way), will be..."Enough!" I hear you cry.

But seriously, as the FIA prepares for the industry's second industry conference, goody bags are being checked, speakers' slides are being double checked and seating plans for the Ball are being poured over.

As for the golf day, judging by the fact that less than 10% of players will be playing off a single figure handicap, whilst over 50% are playing off a 20+ handicap, I can only assume that as an industry, we spend more time at the coal face than we do on the green... or maybe golf is our handicap.

But just like Captain Kirk and all the other starship troopers (or am I mixing my Sci Fi), next week we really will '...go where no man has been before'. The Twentyten Commission's Industry Consultation will be launched. It's ambitious and will have profound implications for ambitions, business planning all seem overshadowed by uncertainty and a certain collective insecurity, it's gratifying to think that we at least, are trying to think rationally about a coherent strategy designed to achieve specific future goals.

But in the short term, some of the country's leading experts will be stimulating us with new ideas for old problems. Think of the power of harnessing those three horses of business- psychology, marketing and communications- and the advantage it could give you.

If your are the Flame Conference next week, I look forward to seeing you.

If you're not...well there's always nest year.

To quote Captain Kirk... I'll spare you. See you on the other side of the Warp Factor.

David Stalker, Executive Director of the FIA

FIA FLAME Conference 2010 - What builds a great business?

 

One of the industry's favourite presenters, Tim Fearon has over twenty years of working in results-driven corporate environments. He will be presenting at the FIA Conference on July 14th in Cheltenham.

I'm not going to lay into the industry's service levels - although Lord knows, I could - but here's a little tale that might have some resonance.

A few months ago I attended a conference in Atlanta and discovered the Metro Café Diner at 229 Peachtree Street, where I found a smile as wide as the Mississippi awaiting me.

"Hi there and how are you today?"

A question delivered with REAL interest and curiosity. What followed? Great food, conversation about the Atlanta mayoral elections and an array of questions to find out where I was from and what was doing in Atlanta [gym instructors please note].

"I'm here for four days. Conference at the Sheraton, but I like to get out of the hotel; otherwise, I never get to see anything of the city."

"Well, sir, if you want to get out at lunchtime, you come back here. You like fish?"

"I sure do."

"We have a great lunch buffet. Great price, great fish and a whole heap of other stuff. Best in town."

And when I returned for my second visit I was greeted with: "Hi, welcome back, great to see you again."

And this in one of, what I reckon, must be the busiest eating places in Atlanta. Get the idea?

Guess where I ate FOUR MORE TIMES in four days, as well as taking other people from the conference there?

It's not rocket science, it's what builds great businesses. Does it apply to the fitness business? You bet your sweet life it does.

Tim Fearon
Owner
The Extraordinary Coaching Company