Ep. 551 - FAN FAVORITE | Orangetheory Fitness Former COO Griff Long | The Truth About Building Outstanding Leadership Teams

Are you tired of chaotic operations, burned-out teams, and the relentless pressure to execute big visions without breaking yourself in the process? In this can’t-miss fan favorite episode, Cameron Herold goes deep with Griff Long, former COO of Orangetheory Fitness, a leader who’s transformed personal growth and business results at some of America’s top brands.

If you’re a second-in-command, exhausted by firefighting and silo wars, this conversation will shake up your playbook. Griff shares battle-tested leadership secrets, why people (not processes) matter most, and how data-driven innovation is gripping the fitness world.

Skip another mediocre “growth” podcast. Listen now to avoid the #1 pain point for COOs: stagnant teams, missed opportunities, and burnout. This is your backstage pass to proven strategies and exclusive insights you won’t get anywhere else.

Timestamped Highlights

[00:00] – Why this episode is a fan-favorite (and why you need it now)

[00:28] – Griff’s devastating rookie mistake and how it reshaped his approach

[01:24] – The “double threat” that got Griff hired at Orangetheory

[03:09] – The surprising science and secrets behind Orangetheory’s addictively sticky workouts

[09:33] – Griff’s golden thread technique for obliterating silos and boosting buy-in

[13:00] – Why running corporate-owned studios is Orangetheory’s secret weapon

[16:02] – How Griff rebuilt the org chart and what every COO should copy

[19:20] – Laser focus vs. death by a thousand cuts: How to avoid competitive distraction

[25:19] – Griff’s top-three leadership lessons (and the #1 thing he’d tell his 22-year-old self)

[34:08] – The red/yellow/green “traffic light” playbook for direct reports and leadership development

About the Guest

Griff Long is the former COO of Orangetheory Fitness, blending 25+ years of hands-on leadership with a passion for measurable growth and elite team culture. Known for scaling fitness giants like PureBar and SoulCycle, Griff has rebuilt teams, crushed operational bottlenecks, and championed transformations using data and heart. He’s a US Triathlon Coach, a Six Sigma Green Belt, and a master at developing people before processes—essential context for any COO facing existential growth pains.

🔗 LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Mentioned Resources

1. Six Sigma (Green Belt, Failure Mode Effect Analysis)
2. Pure Barre
3. SoulCycle
4. Equinox
5. Hertz
6. Steve Case (Flex Car)
7. Bridgewater State University
8. InBody Scales (BMI tracking)
9. Tony Robbins: State, Story, Strategy
10. 1-800-GOT-JUNK

Important Links

1. Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn
2. Explore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command
3. Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book
4. Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)

Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi