When a new member enrolls, you have a piece of paper that lays out their responsibilities, and your commitments. It likely includes a waiver, a PAD form, and a couple of other ground rules (our fifth bullet point: "I promise to be nice to everyone.")
But the real contract - the one on which you'll be judged - isn't written down. It's the understanding that fills the space between The type of member you want is the one who doesn't need the contract. They don't need the burpee penalty, because they're not late. They take off their wet shoes at the door.
You promise not to cheat on your wife. That's not in your marriage contract; it doesn't have to be. It's unwritten. And these rules also exist with your members (I promise not to embarrass you in front of the group,) with other drivers (I promise not to cut you off and potentially make you crash,) and perfect strangers (I promise not to spit on you.)
Problems arise when the Psychological Contract isn't fulfilled. REAL problems - the divorce kind - happen when two partners are keeping two different contracts.
Change is uncomfortable. But if you're building a family in your box, you have a psychological contract with those members to address them like family. Changing your rates? Tell them so - but not as a corporate robot. Not as someone who reports to a Board, or appears rigid. Tell them as Coach.
(on the flip side, this is why psychologists decry the formal "Family meeting!" and suggest we all just eat dinner together instead.)
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