Commitment, excellence, guidance, discipline, rigor, inspiration (...)!
There are plenty of words that perfectly fit the profession of a Personal Trainer.
You may have been in the fitness world for many years and have vast experience, but it is always important to remember not to lose the "enthusiasm" for a profession where you have people who need you and believe in your work.
Instead, those athletes should be a guiding principle of the professional you are and never something you can lose or simply set aside.
In this article, we address the basic principles that immediately measure and distinguish a good professional from a bad one. Athletes are your main asset!
Athletes are your main asset!
Your career is a business and only survives if you have people who believe in you and your work. One of the main characteristics that will set you apart is the Commitment you "signed" with your athlete… and from there, everything ends up flowing.
But how?
Your athlete's focus is your focus!
When you are outlining the training plan with your athlete, you must be open to the goals they have regarding the relationship that is starting there.
Get involved in that focus: this will lead to greater motivation. But don’t be a mere trainer who gives orders or dictates the exercises: show commitment and concern for the athlete's adaptation to the training plan, be compassionate with the difficulties while showing firmness to surpass the goals. This attitude will result in an improved relationship between you and your athlete and will produce long-term effects.
Be demanding and show the professional you are!
Don’t be "slacking"!
Let's be honest: no business runs alone! And if we are talking about the career of a Personal Trainer, this principle applies even more, considering it is a business built largely on interpersonal relationships.
Therefore, opt for a professional attitude, avoiding unnecessary delays and excuses that your athletes might perceive as "weak". If a last-minute unforeseen event occurs and you need to postpone the session, inform your athlete and, if possible, immediately suggest a new date. If you want, you can be evasive and not mention the reason for the postponement. Just this act of notifying the athlete shows respect and empathy, as that person planned their life around that session which will no longer take place.
Moreover, avoid disorganization: manage your athletes so they fit throughout your day, ensuring a healthy balance between your professional and personal life. Create profiles for each athlete, recording information about progress, difficulties, and characteristics (illnesses, limitations, needs, etc.). That way, you'll be able to track their profile over time, besides having a great reference so you don’t forget each athlete's training plans.
Avoid "reverse psychology"
Many Personal Trainers believe that negative inputs are great motivators for athletes because they want to prove they can do what is asked. Well, not always!
We have already said here on the blog that every athlete is unique: each person has their own life stories, difficulties, and fears. Moreover, sport plays a fundamental role in improving mental health.
A destabilizing factor in an activity is not positive, and therefore, adopting a supportive attitude, "lifting up" your athlete should always be present: listen to your athlete, as this will help create a better relationship with them and will allow you to reach the goals together.
Avoid the "I am the best!" attitude
“Ordering” and “Guiding” are not synonyms, just as “Quantity” is not the same as “Quality”. In the gym, many Personal Trainers believe their activity is defined by ordering exercises to fill session times. And if it is possible to fit two or more athletes in the same space, even better. It might be a strategy that works short-term, but soon the athlete will realize they are not being properly supported, dashing all hopes they placed in you when they hired you.
Choose an ethical attitude, providing a service that is transparent and focused solely on the athlete, accompanying and explaining every step of the sessions. “Simple is always Better!”. If you are good, the athletes will eventually come!
Don't stop!
Many Personal Trainers, after initial training, stop studying! They think that’s enough!
But no: it definitely isn’t! The initial course is just the first step! If you really want to dive into the fitness world and be a good professional, you must invest in continuous training outside working hours, to update your methodologies and the techniques you use, as well as learn about other domains related to fitness, such as interpersonal relationships, coaching, nutrition, or even digital marketing.
In doing so, you will gain other tools not provided by the initial course, bringing to your training plans a more comprehensive and holistic approach to how exercise can affect your athletes' lives on many levels.
Final considerations
Being a Personal Trainer is a profession/career of great responsibility. It’s much more than exercises: it involves a commitment between you and the athlete, in a relationship of friendship and respect that is built and involves mutual trust. At BOOMFIT, we believe this trust is built when the professional shows they can answer the athletes' aspirations.
Every day, we help dozens of Personal Trainers in this pursuit, offering more than 350 equipment and accessories in our online store. If you have questions about how you can help your athletes, talk to us: we have a team ready to assist you!
