When it comes to coaching it can be incredibly difficult when a client is not in a place that we think they should be or that we want them to be, however it is a situation that arises all too often and certainly one that needs to be handled in a delicate way. Inexperienced trainers often have a picture in their head of how a training session is going to go when a new (or even an old) client walks in the door and it’s important to remember that it’s not your workout, it’s theirs. They are on their personal fitness journey and it won’t look like anyone else’s.
Instead of trying to put clients in a position that we think they should be in it’s important to meet them where they currently are, and remind ourselves that as trainers no matter what that looks like it’s okay. Everyone has to start somewhere and everyone’s starting position will be different.
Make It Important to Them
Guess what, if you can’t make the training you are doing mean something to your client then the odds that they are going to stick with it is pretty slim. Most people start a fitness journey because they have a goal. Often this goal is physique related and my first piece of advice is if you can get them out of that mindset that is a massive win. Instead, find out the deep personal reasons why they are looking to make a lifestyle change. Perhaps, someone is trying to avoid the Type 2 Diabetes or Heart Disease that runs in their family. Or maybe a new mom wants to model a healthy lifestyle for her kids. Maybe a grandparent just wants to be able to keep up with their grandchildren. Dig deep (try the 5 Why’s Activity) and find the reasons why someone is looking to make a lifestyle change. You will have to dig for this…typically this isn’t the first thing they offer up when you ask them why they are here, but if you can find a deep reason it can be the perfect thing to pull out when clients are struggling or need motivation to continue to work towards their goals.
Let Clients Make the Decisions
This one is going to sound completely counter-productive, however I’ll let you in on a little secret. Clients who make decisions about their next steps or their plans are often more successful than when you stand in front of them and tell them exactly what to do. This doesn’t mean that you can’t guide them to those ideas. This is often referred to as client-centered coaching or motivational interviewing (and we could do an entire post on this alone – heck I probably will now) and it’s a fantastic way to create a collaborative environment for coaches and clients. When clients feel like they are a part of the process and they are included it is much easier for them to set goals they actually can and want to achieve. So make your clients a part of the process instead of just giving orders…they will probably feel better overall and it builds a much more positive client-coach relationship.
Don’t Overexplain
This is a conversation that I often have with new trainers who are just getting started. As I work with trainers who are pursuing post-secondary education in fitness and health they often come out of school with a vast amount of knowledge and they are excited and want to share it. This is fantastic, however the reality is that most clients don’t care. Although you may have a very specific reason for choosing an exercise, or you may be structuring their program a certain way to meet their needs, they likely don’t care to hear those reasons. If they don’t have a science background most of it will probably go over their head anyways and typically these clients are coming to you in order to get away from other problems for a while, so if they don’t want to hear it…shut up. That’s not to say that all clients are like that, you will genuinely encounter clients who want to understand the reasons and science behind why your doing what your doing and by all means if they ask, go ahead and share…but just know that most clients are coming to you because you are the expert…they don’t want to also become an expert.
Work On A Growth Mindset
Growth mindset is a key component for everyone, but for people who are learning new things it’s even more important. Growth mindset promotes the idea that anything can be learned and when someone is starting out on a fitness journey learning is a huge part of the job. Encourage your clients with positive self-talk and help them see that anything can be learned. You may have to break things down into very small pieces, you may have to go back to some serious basics and that’s okay. Doing this will help them develop confidence over time which will build positive relationships and will help clients see all things in their life with a positive growth mindset.
Make it Enjoyable
At the end of the day if what you are giving to your clients is not enjoyable for them I can almost guarantee that they won’t stick with it forever. Your clients might like doing certain exercises or different styles. Ensure that you incorporate that into their workouts somehow. They don’t have to take over everything, but ensuring that your clients get to see things that make them feel good will keep them wanting to come back.
There’s my 5 tips for meeting your clients where they are. Remember that every client is unique and has different needs. As long as we treat our clients like the incredible people they are by using some of these things we will be able to build positive relationships and help clients create sustainable health and fitness routines and habits. Remember that what we think clients need is not always the best option for them or isn’t exactly what they need!
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