Congratulations to all certified personal trainers! After proudly displaying the newly-minted certificate on the gym wall, eager new trainers feel completely prepared to take on the world of fitness, one client at a time. However, in the absence of ample experience, the best tool in anyone’s toolbox, personal trainers may fall prey to a number of common mistakes. Read on to learn how to sidestep these pitfalls and rise to the top of your career.
Communication Skills
In addition to helping foster a leaner, stronger body with a client, a personal trainer must strive to forge a bond of trust with this individual. Each unique client will have his own way of connecting; as such, failing to adapt one’s communication style to each client can quickly tumble into a disconnect. Effective communication makes the listener feel valued and demonstrates respect for him as an individual.
When speaking with a potential client, think about the best way to communicate with him. Observe the person and keep the following in mind ~
- age
- gender
- fitness level
- confidence/openness
- family/work life
- cultural background
Depending on what the trainer notices, he may choose to alter his own language, energy level, and the speed at which he speaks. All of these things will strengthen the connection.
Prepared with the Paperwork
As a personal trainer, think of every client interaction as part of a larger business, one in which you must protect yourself as well as the client. Paperwork will figure prominently in any small business; yet many new trainers fail to gather the proper documentation prior to training.
Once a new client commits to personal training, present him with a medical history form. This allows you to assess a client’s health background and opens your eyes to any current ailments or conditions. If a client presents with a history of back problems, asthma, high blood pressure or balance issues, the trainer can proceed more safely with regard to cardiovascular exercises, overhead movements and stability. Protecting the clients must remain a top priority.
A liability waiver, too, can help ensure that the trainer/gym facility assumes no responsibility for any injuries or accidents during training. By signing this form, a client consents to understanding the risks involved in personal training exercises.
Time Management
A delicate balance exists between growing one’s personal training business and still allowing time for a life outside of the gym. New trainers often fail to maximize their time in such a way that allows them to train the most clients while not losing themselves in the process.
Consider peak and off-peak times: since most potential clients work an 8-hour day Monday through Friday, offering training on weekday evenings or weekend mornings enables clients to remain flexible and trainers to stay plenty busy.
Along with time management, trainers must consider peak usage of gym equipment when establishing their work schedules. Busy times at the gym may mean that both trainer and client end up sacrificing precious time waiting for the availability of popular machines/weight stacks. Always have a back-up exercise in mind if this occurs.
Progress Reports
In an effort to constantly keep training fresh, many trainers change workout programs every time they meet with a client. One of the most easily avoidable mistakes, personal trainers must keep track of a client’s progress. During or at the end of every session, a trainer can and should keep a record of the following:
- Number of reps performed
- Weight lifted
- Time to perform a specific exercise
- Client feedback after each exercise/ the session
- Client developing a familiarity with/adaptation to the exercise
Prior to beginning a session, check your notes to remind yourself of what the client did last time, to help you shape the next session.
Accurate record-keeping also benefits the client, as it allows him to see his progress, which will keep him motivated. Failing to track weight used and reps performed means that clients may fail to achieve progressive overload, an essential component of stimulating muscle growth.
Understanding When to Push, Gently Encourage, or Back Off
As trainers, we understand the value and importance of pushing clients to perform at their best; however, asking too much of a client too quickly ranks as one of the more common mistakes personal trainers make, particularly new trainers who may want to show off their skills and stand out in their new career. Focusing on small, incremental changes fosters injury-free progress. While nearly everyone will experience DOMS (delayed on-set muscle soreness) after a session, we never want a client to suffer from extreme DOMS, a key indication of having pushed him too far. Rather than motivating clients, this could backfire and have the opposite effect, meaning that clients may not want to return for another session.
In the book Switch, authors Dan and Chip Heath state, “Big problems are rarely solved with commensurately big solutions. Instead, they are most often solved by a sequence of small solutions, sometimes over decades.”
To this end, practicing patience with clients will benefit both of you in the long run. Teaching a movement does not come easily to every trainer; in many instances, a trainer finds himself needing to rework a motor pattern ingrained in the client over many years. Everything takes time, but consistency and patience will always win.
Knowing One’s Limitations
When a new personal trainer finds himself in competition (whether perceived or real) with a gym’s more seasoned employees, he may want to compensate by offering a wide range of exercises. However, teaching unfamiliar advanced techniques may result in improper form. Sometimes the faulty execution of an exercise results in the client targeting the wrong muscle. If propagated, the client may fail to meet his goals, or worse, suffer an unnecessary injury. A personal trainer who knows his strengths and specialty can cultivate his training niche.
Flexibility
New trainers must keep in mind that the activity set before them constitutes productive exercise and not overly rigid military boot camp. While he certainly needs to plan and structure his workout programs, a trainer should also possess an element of flexibility and openness to change, even halfway through a session.
Stay aware of these possible reasons to change or alter a program ~
- Client consistently falls short of expectations
- Client finds an exercise either too hard or too easy
- Client feels unwell or injured
Since the goal remains a client’s wellbeing and safety, the willingness to pivot mid-stream or stop training altogether should always stay in the forefront on a trainer’s mind.
Offer the Complete Package
Working out properly and consistently will only take a client so far. A significant element in the journey to wellness and fitness actually occurs in one’s kitchen. As a personal trainer, you must emphasize this reality for every client. By educating clients on the simple basics of healthy versus unhealthy food choices, you can provide him with tools that offer his best chance of success in meeting his goals. Regularly consuming poor choices can easily undo weeks of hard work in the gym.
Based on a clients’ goals, as well as the trainer’s knowledge/certification in Health Coaching, come up with a simple meal plan. If a client’s goal centers on building muscle, a trainer can extoll the virtues of high-quality lean protein. Weight-loss clients will appreciate a trainer willing to spend a few extra moments explaining macronutrients and how to read package labels at the grocery store. Taking the time to create a meal plan that compliments the client’s training indicates the ability to offer a total wellness package.
Stay Up-to-Date on Research
Even though new trainers just finished studying for months prior to taking their certification exam, those who go the farthest in this career will refuse to “settle”. Day One in the gym does not mean the end of one’s education and self-development. Good personal trainers have a thirst for additional knowledge, keep learning more, keep developing their skills, and stay up to date with the latest techniques and developments in the fitness industry.
As the late George Carlin said, “Don’t just teach your children to read, teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything.”
When trainers read journal articles or attend seminars/workshops, they might consider the following questions ~
- Qualifications of the author/speaker
- What organization funded the research
- Does the targeted demographic align with my current client load
- Did the hypothesis match the conclusion
Many trainers wish to seek out a mentor early in their careers. Mentors serve multiple important roles in every trainer’s professional development. They can help create a safe space for open discussions and support. They can also provide constructive feedback and advice to help new personal trainers build and enrich their business. An experienced mentor also offers the ability to point out additional ways of looking at and analyzing problems that may arise along the way.
The Importance of Advertising
Testimonials, whether they come in the form of a written statement or word-of-mouth, remain one of the best forms of marketing for a budding personal training business. Research has shown that 97% of potential clients will read reviews before investing in a product or service.
Do not shy away from asking clients for feedback after helping them achieve a goal. Talk with a supervisor; many gyms post these testimonials on a bulletin board for all members to see. After working in the field for a period of time, trainers can approach long-standing clients and ask for a recommendation or endorsement. Personal trainers can then use these testimonials in their marketing efforts, such as on their website or social media.
Minimizing Distractions
Since most clients pay a significant amount of money for the privilege of a one-on-one workout, trainers must ensure that their attention remains fully focused on their clients throughout every session. While acknowledging that other people in the gym may want to stop and chat with the trainer or the client mid-session, politely keeping the session moving along helps both parties remain engaged in the task at hand. Trainers should stay off of their cell phones during a workout session, unless they have relevant content to share with a client, such as videos illustrating how to execute a particular exercise.
Maintain Positive Energy
Whether a client represents the start of the workday or the last of six consecutive sessions, a good trainer offers the same amount of energy and displays the same level of enthusiasm for all of them. Of course, as mere mortal human beings, trainers will in fact begin to feel fatigued or worn out after a long day; however, keep in mind that the next hour belongs to the client who has anxiously awaited his workout time. As such, he deserves a trainer with an upbeat attitude.
Final Thoughts
Every new career or business endeavor comes with its list of rules and regulations, and sometimes keeping everything straight in one’s mind can seem like a juggling act. Novice trainers might periodically need to remind themselves of why they chose to enter the fitness field and pursue a career in personal training. The joy of movement, the value of strength, the benefits of flexibility and the ability to share all of this with another individual will see each of us through as we learn the daily tricks of the trade.
References:
https://www.gymandfitness.com.au/blogs/tips/8-ways-to-spot-a-bad-personal-trainer
https://www.wellnessliving.com/blog/common-personal-trainer-mistakes-how-to-avoid-them/
https://www.theptdc.com/articles/17-mistakes-new-personal-trainers-make
