skills such as ‘big picture’ thinking and long term vision were found to
be particularly important. EQ proved to be twice as important as the
other qualities for successful leadership and strong performance.
EQ in the world of fitness
The relationship between EQ and effective performance, especially in
leaders, is very useful when your primary objective is to lead others to
a healthier way of life. If you can read the person you are dealing with
effectively, you can prescribe the appropriate exercise to achieve the
best results – in the most appropriate manner. Similarly, you will be able
to interact with class members or clients in a way that will make them
both be, and feel, more successful in achieving their goals.
Les Mills group fitness programs use EQ psychology in their GFI
instructor training and also in their advanced coaching models (AIM1
and AIM2). DISC personality profiles (Figure 1) are also used as a tool
to encourage instructors to tailor their coaching to suit the range of
members in the room. The team at Les Mills has researched the kind
of personality types likely to attend each of its class styles, and used
this information to G&