Remember when you were a new member?
Remember walking into the gym for the first time and not knowing anyone? Remember not knowing where anything was, who the coaches were, or what you were supposed to do?
Maybe you didn't know what AMRAP meant. Maybe "21-15-9" sounded like a secret code. Maybe you had never heard of a Girl benchmark workout or a Hero workout. You probably didn't know the difference between a power snatch and a power clean.
And then there was the workout itself.
You may remember the anxiety, fear, worry, and nerves that came with doing your first CrossFit workout. You were surrounded by people who seemed to know exactly what they were doing while you were simply trying to figure out where to stand and what the heck everyone was talking about.
And on top of all of that, you didn't know anyone.
Now think about the new athlete who walked into your gym today.
They are probably feeling the exact same way.
That is why one of the most important things we can do as members of a CrossFit community is something incredibly simple:
Send the elevator back down.
You have been there before.
You remember what it felt like to be the person who didn't know anyone. You remember what it felt like to feel like everyone else knew something you didn't. You remember wondering if you were going to fit in.
The difference now is that you aren't that person anymore.
You know the coaches. You know the members. You know where the equipment is. You know what an AMRAP is. You know that "Fran" isn't a person walking into the gym. You know the difference between a power clean and a power snatch. You have probably learned dozens of movements, terminology, workouts, and inside jokes along the way.
You've moved up the elevator.
Now it's your responsibility to send it back down.
And it doesn't require some grand gesture.
It can be as simple as saying, "Hi, I'm Josh. What's your name?"
That's it.
Five to ten seconds.
But those five to ten seconds can make an enormous difference to someone who is already nervous about being there.
Introduce yourself. Show them where the bathrooms are. Point them toward the water fountain. Help them find the equipment they need. Introduce them to someone else. Tell them that you remember what your first workout felt like.
Most importantly, make them feel like they belong.
Because belonging is a huge part of what makes a great CrossFit gym different from simply walking into a place with barbells and pull-up rigs.
We don't just want people to get fitter.
We want people to feel like they are part of something.
Culture doesn't happen because we put the word "community" on the wall. Culture happens because of the small things our members consistently do for one another.
It happens when someone notices a new face.
It happens when someone walks across the gym to introduce themselves.
It happens when an experienced athlete helps a beginner understand what is happening without making them feel stupid for not knowing.
It happens when we remember that everyone who walks through the door was a beginner at some point.
And this is especially important because the new athlete doesn't know what they don't know.
They may be worried about being judged.
They may be worried they aren't fit enough.
They may be worried they won't be able to keep up.
They may be worried everyone is watching them.
They may be wondering whether they made a mistake by signing up.
We can eliminate a lot of that anxiety simply by making them feel welcome.
A smile.
A handshake.
A "Hey, I've seen you here a couple of times. What's your name?"
A quick introduction.
These things seem insignificant to the person doing them, but they can be incredibly significant to the person receiving them.
Think back to your own first few weeks.
Someone probably did this for you.
Someone probably showed you where something was. Someone explained something you didn't understand. Someone encouraged you during a workout. Someone introduced themselves and made you feel like you weren't an outsider anymore.
Someone sent the elevator back down for you.
Now it's your turn.
This is how we uphold our culture.
Not through words, but through actions.
Every experienced athlete has an opportunity to make the gym a better place for the person who is just starting their journey. You don't have to be a coach. You don't have to know everything. You don't have to have years of experience.
You simply have to care enough to notice.
So the next time you see a new face in the gym, take the extra five to ten seconds.
Say hello.
Introduce yourself.
Help them find their way around.
Make them feel welcome.
Remember what it was like when you were new.
You were there once. Send the elevator back down.
If you want to be part of a CrossFit community where coaching, accountability, and culture matter, schedule a free consultation with CrossFit Be Someone today.
