You've probably seen the commercials for personal trainers, the ones that promise to help you get into great shape. But what's actually involved in being a good personal trainer? There's more than just being able to push a lot of weight around or run marathons faster than anyone else. In fact, there are six key communication skills that every personal trainer should have:
Be a good listener.
- Listening is more than just hearing. It's a skill that can be learned, and it involves paying attention to what the other person is saying, not what you want to say.
- Listening requires focus and concentration on what the speaker is saying, not what you want them to say or think about yourself.
- When listening well, it's important not only for us as listeners but also for those who are speaking with us because they will feel respected and heard when we give them our full attention during conversations at work or in personal relationships
Listening is a skill that we can learn. Listening well involves paying attention to what the speaker is saying, not thinking about what you want to say next or how the conversation will end. When listening well, it's important not only for us as listeners but also for those who are speaking with us because they will feel respected and heard when we give them our full attention during conversations at work or in personal relationships
Be a good problem solver.
As a personal trainer, you'll be responsible for helping your clients solve their problems. You may need to explain how the body works and how it responds to exercise and nutrition. You also need to know how to use equipment properly, as well as how different exercises affect different muscles.
In other words: You have a lot of information at your fingertips! But if you can't communicate this knowledge effectively (or at all), then what good is it? That's why we recommend being an active listener first and foremost--so that you can really understand what needs fixing in the first place before moving forward with any kind of plan.
Be positive and motivational.
It's important for personal trainers to be positive and supportive. If a client is feeling down or frustrated, you should encourage them to set goals that are attainable. By helping your clients stay motivated, you can make a difference in their lives--and they'll thank you for it!
Personal trainers should also give positive feedback on progress made by clients. It's important not only because this helps build confidence in the client but also because it will motivate them further down the road when things get tough (and they inevitably do).
Help people feel comfortable with you as a trainer.
You want to be a helpful and supportive person, but also someone who can handle difficult situations. People will be more likely to trust you with their bodies if they feel comfortable doing so.
To do this, there are two main things you need: empathy and patience. Empathy is the ability to understand other people's feelings and perspectives by putting yourself in their shoes--and patience is the ability to wait while they figure out what they want or need before helping them get there. When people talk with you about their goals or concerns, listen carefully and try not to jump into problem solving mode too quickly because then it won't really matter what advice or suggestions you give them; instead focus on understanding where they're coming from first so that when it does come time for suggestions from either side (yours or theirs), everyone knows exactly where everyone stands on any given issue being discussed at hand!
Anticipate questions and concerns.
As a personal trainer, it's important to be aware of potential issues that could arise during the session. You want to be ready for anything that comes up so that you can handle it quickly and effectively.
If your client asks about something specific, like how many days they should exercise each week or whether they should buy new sneakers or not, have an answer ready right away. Don't make them wait until after their workout is over; instead, use those moments before starting as an opportunity to address any questions or concerns they might have had during the week leading up to their session with you (or even just earlier today).
Also keep in mind what kinds of questions are likely coming up based on the type of person who has hired you as their personal trainer: someone who isn't experienced with working out will likely ask things differently than someone who has been exercising regularly for years and knows exactly what kind of workouts work best for them at different times throughout their day/week/year/etc., so pay attention!
Communicate with clients in their language and style of communication.
You may be a fitness professional, but that doesn't mean your clients are going to understand every word you say. They may not have the vocabulary or technical knowledge of what you can do for them--and that's okay! In order to communicate effectively with them, it's important that you use their language.
- Use simple words and phrases in everyday speech rather than medical jargon or industry terms. For example: "I'm going to help you reach your goals" instead of "We'll be working on increasing muscle mass."
- Speak at an appropriate speed for the client (i.e., don't speak too quickly). This helps ensure they're able to absorb what you're saying without getting overwhelmed by too much information at once.
Communicating well with your clients is vital to helping them achieve their goals and stay motivated
- A client should feel comfortable with you.
- You need to be a good listener and respond to your clients' questions and concerns in a manner that is not only helpful, but also encouraging.
- Keep things positive and motivational--no one wants to hear about how hard it will be or how much weight they'll have to lose! Anticipate questions or concerns, so you can address them before they become an issue for the client. Also, communicate with your clients in their language and style of communication (i.e., email vs phone call).
Conclusion
In conclusion, strong communication with your clients is essential for helping them achieve their goals and stay motivated. It may be challenging at times, but the rewards are well worth the effort! If you're interested in pursuing a career as a personal trainer, remember that effective communication is key to success.
