Today’s fitness industry has morphed into a giant machine that requires you to keep up with the latest trends and the newest techniques. There’s always something new being introduced, and if you wanted to be successful in this business, you better keep up with them all. Unfortunately, most of these new trends are totally irrelevant to the real purpose of coaching—helping individuals reach their fitness and health goals.
As a fitness professional, you may think of yourself as a sought-after health coach. But the truth is your clients could benefit greatly from your guidance and expertise. Are you about to blow their mind with your level of knowledge? Or, are you afraid to share your secrets? Either way, these “5 uncommon ways to level up as a fitness professional” are sure to prove you’re a fitness guru!
We all have our own unique approach to fitness, and so do our clients. The answers to every clients questions and problems may be different from the ones you learned in your own training. But great coaches are able to combine their training with their clients’ needs. Coaches who are able to take unique approaches to help their clients reach their goals.
You can’t limit yourself to easy clients and clients that are similar to you if you want to advance as a fitness professional. You’ll eventually have to learn how to work with clients of diverse shapes, sizes, ages, and backgrounds, as well as how to produce results for them. Here’s how to do it.
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Consider your client list for a moment.
Who are the persons with whom you’re collaborating?
Are they people who are already reasonably healthy?
Do they get what you’re saying when you say “squat,” “core,” “glycemic index,” or “good fat?”
Is it possible for them to move without pain the majority of the time? Do they already eat quite well? Do they consider healthy living and a desire to improve?
Are they primarily driven? Are you usually coachable? Are you ready to make a change?
If that’s the case, congratulations.
But what about the rest of the world?
There are a lot of other folks that require your assistance.
They’re the people who your gym could label as “difficult clients.”
Perhaps they’re obese or on too many drugs. Perhaps they’re limping due to a knee injury that refuses to heal. Maybe they’re having trouble sleeping. I can’t seem to relax. I’m having trouble concentrating.
Perhaps they won’t be able to keep to a diet or fitness routine for long. Late at night, you can’t say no to cookies or alcohol. They are no longer able to squeeze into their jeans.
Perhaps they’ve given up hope of living a happy, healthy life.
Whether they realize it or not, they are contributing to the world’s worst health issue.
It’s fortunate for them that you’re here.
You’re a health, fitness, and nutrition aficionado.
You are a firm believer in working out, eating right, and leading a healthy lifestyle. You also wish to assist others in doing the same. You’re both their hope and their answer.
The issue is, do you have what it takes to assist others who are in desperate need?
Who are the thorny clients? Those who appear to be unmotivated? Those whose lifestyles appear to be so dissimilar to yours that you’re not sure if they can ever be helped?
You might be right if you have a sneaking sense that you won’t be able to help these people right now. And that’s fine.
We’ve all been in that situation.
I’m one of them.
I’d look at a client and say to myself, “I don’t know what to do.”
When I initially started coaching, I had a couple of customers who looked to be particularly difficult.
I didn’t know how to get them to do anything. I had no idea how I was going to keep them on track. I wasn’t sure what they required. I was concerned that my coaching style would be ineffective.
It’s terrifying to sit down with a client and think, “I’m not sure what to do here.” This person, I’m not convinced, can be helped. Or at the very least, I’m not sure I can assist them. Is this a sign that I’m a lousy coach?”
It can have a significant impact on your self-esteem.
Now I see that I wasn’t such a poor instructor. (Not to mention that these people weren’t awful customers.)
I simply lacked the abilities and tactics to deal with them.
And why would I want to? Behavioral psychology and motivational interviewing have never been taught to me. I’d never had any training in practice-based coaching or change communication.
Fortunately, I’ve attended classes and completed continuing education, so I now have these abilities.
Today, I, like the rest of the staff, take satisfaction in being able to assist anyone.
From professional athletes to persons who have never exercised a day in their life, our clients come from all over the world, with a variety of backgrounds and starting places in their coaching journey.
What can we do to assist them?
Let’s go exploring!
I hope that at the end of this essay, you’ll be able to realize how your most challenging clients can also be your most rewarding.
They are, after all, actual people with interesting differences and distinct difficulties. And if you’re good, you’ll regard their problems as intriguing riddles to solve.
With the correct coaching skills and approach, you can help anyone.
Let’s go back to your client list for a moment.
Do you have any clients who:
- Is it true that he or she despises the gym with a ferocious zeal? (Or is it terrifying?)
- Is it difficult to get out of bed in the morning because you’re exhausted and/or depressed?
- Is he or she dealing with a long-term illness?
- Has anyone gone through or is going through a gender transition?
- Is it a part of a culture you’ve never heard of?
- Is it possible that you’re suffering from anxiety or another mental health problem?
- Is he or she more than 30 years your senior?
- Is having difficulty paying for your services and may be making huge sacrifices in order to do so?
- Have you ever had or are you currently dealing with an eating disorder?
- Doesn’t have a good command of the English language?
It’s fine if you say no to any or all of these fictitious clients. Your clients are unquestionably complex and deserving individuals.
The objective is to ask yourself, “Who else can I assist?”
And, more importantly, what else do I need to understand in order to assist them?
Your approach to coaching
Starting with your own mindset is the greatest place to start.
Prepare yourself for the knowledge that working with people is never boring.
You never know who will walk into your clinic or what troubles they may bring with them.
Let’s face it: people are difficult to understand. Their circumstances and backgrounds are complicated. Our bodies are intricately designed.
This is a fact that the top instructors do not deny.
They take a step forward.
They are enthralled.
They eat it for breakfast with a big fat coach grin on their faces.
This does not imply that you must devise a complex, individualized solution for each client. You don’t have to fix every issue your clients have ever encountered.
In fact, you’ll receive the best results if you help all of your clients focus on and grasp key fundamentals (such as mindful eating).
It simply means that you must be prepared for anything, be eager to learn, and accept full responsibility for both your advice and what your client does with it.
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink,” some trainers believe.
“Of course you can’t make them drink!” you think. You can, however, make them really thirsty.”
Make your coaching services available to everyone.
Effective communication and the creation of a welcome environment are also important aspects of good coaching.
Consider the following scenarios with this in mind:
- Is it simple to find, navigate, and read your website (assuming you have one)?
- How big is the typeface on your handouts or other printed materials? Is it possible for someone with poor vision to read them comfortably? Do you have images in addition to text in your resources?
- Is your spoken communication understandable and clear? What is the level of background noise in your coaching environment? In other words, might someone who can’t hear very well hear you clearly?
- Is it simple to get to your coaching location? Do people, for example, need to walk up stairs? Consider how you might increase physical accessibility and safety for your older and/or less mobile clients.
- Is it possible for someone with a bigger physique or one that doesn’t move well to navigate your coaching environment and feel at ease?
- Is your coaching location in a secure area? Will women feel safe going to the gym late at night?
Consider your assumptions about your clients’ mobility, physical capabilities, and abilities. Do you need to rethink your assumptions and expectations?
Finally, when you communicate effectively with a broad audience, create an accessible coaching atmosphere, and make people feel at ease, everyone wins, including you (i.e. you become an elite coach, you attract all types of clients, your clients refer all types of friends, and your business takes off).
Make use of your “whole-self” coaching abilities.
Try “whole-self” coaching to improve your ability to connect with a wider range of people.
This is what “whole-self” coaching entails.
When you get “whole-self” coaching, you don’t try to be someone or something you aren’t.
Assume the role of a real person when you arrive at work. Human. Complex. Don’t act like you’re the perfect fitness model who never misses a workout, eats a bad meal, or makes a mistake. After all, you’re simply another individual attempting to make sense of things.
Coaching that focuses on the “whole person” is genuine.
You are not required to remember half-truths or to conceal potentially embarrassing information. Bring your whole self to the coaching session. Of course, you shouldn’t air your “dirty laundry” or blather on about your blunders. Just be yourself. Clients are able to detect BS from a mile away.
Coaching that focuses on the “whole person” helps us to be more focused.
All systems are intertwined: mind, body, and spirit. Our resources and efforts are focused in one direction. We’re not engrossed in anything. We’re not wasting time worrying or attempting to hide anything. We’ve checked in and are being aware, putting our energy to good use.
Our “best self” is coached as a “whole-self” approach.
We fire on all cylinders when we employ our own honest thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Our finest self emerges when we are honest, integral, and genuine. We become superhero coaches by demonstrating our inherent grandeur.
Finally, our clients do not alter just as a result of our “expert” knowledge or status. They also vary as a result of the inherent regulation of human connections.
Our inner selves are tapped into when we connect with another person in a genuine, accepting, and affirming way.
It is calming to be connected. Connection is energizing. Connection is a powerful healer.
We are sorted out by connection.
Change is brought about by connections.
And all you have to do to connect with clients—even those you don’t entirely comprehend—is to be fully human, fully present, and fully yourself.
To connect, use your imagination.
Because we all relate to each other in different ways, you may need to get creative while working with a broad group of clients.
When and where you need them, use all of your coaching abilities, skills, experiences, talents, interests, and aptitudes.
Consider the following scenario:
- You may need to teach certain content in a unique way, such as through drawings, flowcharts, videos, or music. (Is it a puppet show? Haiku? Is it time for a game of Twister? The options are limitless.)
- You may need to employ metaphors and analogies that are specific to the client’s experience (e.g., “Anna, are you an accountant?”). Consider it as the body’s financial sheet…”)
- To better relate to a client, you may need to draw on your skills or experiences. (“Hey! Do you enjoy cricket, sailing, or collecting stamps? Yes, I agree! Here’s what I discovered: Eating better and strengthening my grip helped me concentrate on sticking all those little stamps on the page…”)
Allow your personal idiosyncrasies, hobbies, talents, and superpowers to shine through, even if they don’t seem to fit in with fitness. (Hint: they most likely do have a home.)
Also, be willing to adapt to the learning approaches, motivational messages, and thought patterns that each customer prefers.
Individualization should be balanced with common motifs.
The majority of the fundamental rules still apply. Good nutrition, for example, is still good nutrition.
However, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Clients are unique. Various people have different bodies. Diverse people have different life experiences and viewpoints.
As a coach, you should:
Be willing to push oneself and work through barriers.
To work with folks like you as a coach. And not in the way you are. In addition to everything in between.
Prepare to learn and listen.
To feed and grow your mindset, to expand your experiences, and to cross-fertilize ideas while learning directly from your clients.
Prepare to be enthralled.
If you’re unsure how to assist, just ask.
“Can you tell me how I can make this easier or more pleasant for you?”
“What are you looking for here?”
“Tell me how well this is working for you and how we can make it better.”
It’s preferable to inquire than to ignore, wonder, or sit awkwardly in an embarrassing circumstance. The majority of individuals will be grateful that you took the time to enquire.
Be willing to admit your own limitations.
The vast majority of individuals on the planet are not like you. That’s OK. (Besides, when they produced you, rockstar, we know they shattered the mold.) Make a fuss about it. Make the best of it.
“I could never comprehend what it’s like to be .” But I’m here to assist you. So let’s collaborate on this.”
“Please notify me if you require accommodations for or assistance with . I’ll do my best to foresee it, but I won’t always be able to. Deal?”
“I made a shopping list in your language using Google Translate. This may be a poor translation, but I felt it would be more convenient for you. What are your thoughts? Have I gotten it right? This is a fantastic opportunity for me to pick up a few new words!”
It’s not a big issue if you make a mistake. Learn and develop. Continue to improve your coaching skills. Clients will admire you for making an effort.
Embrace it: working with a diverse group of people is a blast.
Yes, confronting a new circumstance might be daunting.
It’s also insanely cool.
Because it indicates you’re learning something new. gaining new knowledge and insight Cross-fertilizing. Synthesizing. Creating. Adapting.
You are assisting others. People from all walks of life. Your horizons are broadening. And they’re getting the help they require.
As a coach, the more you work across boundaries, with a variety of clients and situations, the better.
You’ll eventually welcome the obstacles because they’ll only make you stronger and more resilient.
You’ll become a better coach as a result of the challenges, not in spite of them.
Do you want to improve your coaching skills?
It’s no secret that expert coaches develop through time, usually with the help of a mentor or coach, through education and constant practice.
is the only organization in the world that works with thousands of nutrition counseling clients while also teaching health, fitness, and wellness professionals how to attain real-world outcomes.
And here’s some exciting news: our Level 2 Certification Master Class will begin on September 22nd, 2021.
Do you want to be completely confident in your coaching abilities? How do you get (and keep) more customers? How can you improve and strengthen your practice? If that’s the case, the Level 2 Certification is for you.
It’s tailored to Level 1 students and graduates who recognize that understanding nutrition science isn’t enough.
It’s the only course in the world designed to help you master the art of coaching, which means better results for your clients and a better business for you. Part master class, part grad program, part mentorship, it’s the only course in the world designed to help you master the art of coaching, which means better results for your clients and a better business for you.
Because we only accept a limited number of professionals and the program always sells out, I strongly advise you to join our VIP List below. When you do, you’ll have the opportunity to join up 24 hours before the rest of the world. Even better, you’ll save a ton of money on the program’s regular price.
[Note: The Level 2 Master Class is reserved for Level 1 Certification students and graduates. So, if you haven’t already done so, enroll in that program.]Interested? Your name will be added to the VIP list. You’ll save up to 37% and get your position 24 hours before the rest of the world.
On Wednesday, September 22nd, we will be accepting applications for our next Level 2 Certification Master Class.
If you’d like to learn more, we’ve created the following VIP list, which offers you two benefits.
- Pay less than the competition. People that are eager to get started and willing to master their coaching practice are rewarded. As a result, when you join the Master Class VIP list, you’ll get a discount of up to 37% off the regular price.
- Increase your chances of getting a space by signing up 24 hours before the general public. The PN Master Class is only open twice a year. We expect it to sell out quickly due to great demand and a limited number of slots. However, if you join the Master Class VIP list, you’ll be able to register a full 24 hours before the rest of the world.
If you’re serious about becoming one of the top coaches in the world, the PN Level 2 Certification Master Class is ready to guide you for a year.
Everybody loves exercise. And with all the weight loss and fitness trackers and apps out there, it seems that every client wants to skip right to the goal of losing weight. But is this the best path for everyone? What if you can’t run a mile? What if you struggle with cardio?. Read more about methods of communication to motivate client and let us know what you think.
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