You’re a great Personal Trainer but are you popular?

You have been Personal Training for years, have all the knowledge you need to know about the human body, train 40+ people every week, have a striking physique and everybody loves you...or do they?
Are you open to being a true mentor to your clients? This article invites you to take a deeper look to see if you are as well-liked as you believe you are.
I invite you to take off your bullet proof vest and take a look at 7 of the top reasons Personal Trainers fail the popularity test.
1. Communication: This is by far the most important aspect of every trainer. Do you believe you get your message across to your clients? Seriously; have a think about what could be going on in your client’s heads when you are doing the talking. Are they really engaged in what you are saying? Do they really want to know the finer details of your life? Or are they just too polite to interrupt. Do you talk about yourself more than they talk? We all have exciting things that are going on in our lives from time to time (e.g. new relationships, how much you lifted on the bench press this morning, new baby, getting married, new car, going to a concert, special achievements, a new house etc) and with the investment of time and money that your client has contributed, it is a problem I see all too often. Observe how much talking you do in each session and aim for a balance in favour of the client.
2. Technique Correction: Placing a client on a machine and standing back and counting reps is another common fault. Many trainers fail to correct their client’s technique and lack the ability to communicate how to execute correct form.
3. Intimidation: Intimidating prospects or clients with your physique and strength by showing off how fit or strong you are, every session, every week. Use your verbal cues to let them know what they will be doing. You don’t have to demonstrate a push up to let them know that you want them to do some. Not only does this take advantage of the time they have paid for but you may not be even aware that you are doing this.
4. Appropriately dressed: Dressing to suit the type of client and the environment you are training in is essential. Avoid dressing in anything that shows too much skin. Outdoor training my warrant shorts and a t-shirt but these should be subject to suitability as well.
5. Being too helpful: Are you aware of how much you help your clients lift the weights they do and have them think that they did it. Do you recommend the 60+ year old you train do all machine based exercises at a light weight and talk to them like they are a little old person? Do you cheat your clients out of the experience of having them know they are really doing, or do you tell them they do well every time, no matter what? If you are a male trainer then you may not be aware that you are doing this to your female clients.
6. Using the session to sell products: Are you really thinking about your client or are you just thinking about how much extra money you will make at the end of week if you have them buy your products. Examples are protein powders, weight loss supplements, vitamins, clothing, training tools, gift certificates etc.
7. Not focusing on your client or easily distracted: Whether you train your client in a loud gym or outdoors, there are many things going on around you. Even a ringing phone, sirens, other people, or personal reasons can get in the way of giving your client your undivided attention and value for money that they deserve. An important question to ask yourself is “Is the exercise and attention that I am prescribing for my client right now, the very best I can give at this time and will it help them reach their goals?” If you can be doing or saying something different, then why are you not doing it?
Copyright 2009 Healthy Executives©
Author Chris Bakens is head Performance Coach with Healthy Executives, a leading Brisbane corporate health company. They work with senior executives to implement healthy initiatives in the workplace. Her experience spans more than 2 decades in the fitness industry, working as a Personal Trainer, PT manager, Group exercise instructor and co-ordinator in some of Australia’s large gym chains. She also established a highly successful Personal Training studio in South Brisbane and personally coaches Personal Training studios with strategies and tips to dramatically transform and master their trainers.