YOU ARE NOT
YOUR CLIENT
We must meet our clients where they are and respect the boundaries of being a
guide and not a judge, writes PT and performance coach Susy Natal.
o much of what can make a
personal trainer and client
relationship powerful happens
outside of the workout itself.
What is often referred to as the ‘art’ of
personal training does not just include the
knack that some trainers have of being able
to predict that a foot should move over here
or that this cue will work for that particular
client: it also includes how the trainer
communicates with, and therefore positions
themselves within the life of, the client. While
many people, when envisioning personal
trainers, will still conjure up images of order-
yelling drill-sergeant types, it is actually a far
more collaborative and autonomous model
that will create the nurturing environment
that maximises the success of your clients.
S
Books and covers
When people first meet, massive amounts
of information are absorbed and processed,
even before either party has the opportunity
to say anything. The client’s appearance,
how fit they look, and how knowledgeable
they appear about health and fitness once
they do begin to speak, are just some of the
many pieces of information that trainers will
receive and interpret from the get-go.
The mind makes assumptions: the brain
is a highly efficient association-making
machine that will, by default, seek short-
cuts for processing, utilising pre-existing
information and biases. There is little utility
in trying to undo these processes as they are
automatic, and everyone has them. Rather,
accept that they are there, and choose
to remain engaged with what the client is
actually presenting to you, and identify
where you might be filling in the gaps with
your own expectations about what kind of a
person you think your client might be.
Listen, ask, listen again
Active listening will allow you to remain
focused on the message that the client is
trying to convey, and open-ended questions
that cannot be answered with a simple ‘yes’
or ‘no’ will allow you to drill down further
wherever you are uncertain about any of
the details. Active listening requires your
complete attention. Do not meet a new client
when you are in a rush, or when your mind
is elsewhere. It also goes without saying
that this is an excellent opportunity to bust
the ugly stereotype of the unprofessional
trainer who’s more focused on their phone
than their client. Remove distractions and
Your prowess
as a trainer will
become apparent
as your client
reaps the benefits
of your training:
as the saying goes
‘show me, don’t
tell me’.
NETWORK AUTUMN 2020 | 37