Over the years, I've00 met so many young trainers that enter the field and want to "memorize" information so that they are ready to tackle the needs of every client they encounter. When I ask "What makes a great trainer?" to a group, I typically get these responses:
"...designing a good exercise program" "...being patient with your clients" "...being professional" "...staying up to date on continuing education and seminars"
All of which are true, but a great trainer is someone that is successful at what they do because the client is receptive. The more and more I work with different populations, I understand that in order for me to fulfill my passion and expedite my knowledge, it is really choosing the right clients. As someone once said, the client is your "walking billboard", and it is VERY true. A good client makes a great trainer.
I have a "trainer education" room at my club set up for training our trainers. We have class every week with homework, discussion, demonstration, etc.
There is a sign on the door with our creed, a quote I got from one of Brian Grasso's books, that to me defines for me what makes a great trainer:
JP Fitness Trainer University
Our professional commitment and creed:
“I intend never to stop learning, considering, and evolving as a professional… Even if that means the declaring my views wrong at times. Professionals who hold strongly to one point or philosophy without considering the merits of other training styles are doomed to a marginal career, reaping marginal success.”
I think that you will find education theory addresses this topic. ( the good learner/ the good teacher). Trainers are very much involved with the whole "learning process with their clients, and I think that many of the precepts of curriculum design, managing the learning process and overall curriculum design have interesting parallels.
Linguists (Nunan & Lamb 2001) look at things that I think should be an essential part of "training" (be it language or strength training, etc) and which by extension contribute to an effective program for the client.
1) Learning-centeredness
2) traditional "teaching vs negotiated learning" (high/low structure teaching)
3)Needs analysis (orientation:proficiency or humanistic or specific purpose)
4) goals and objectives..
I think that to be a successful trainer you must be more that a "good trainer"; you need to be able to developed a negotiated program (curriculum if you will) within the constraints of your own ability/knowledge, the client's needs/abilities, the institutional restrictions, and social conventions.
Cheers
Peter
__________________
Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
well in my opinion a good personal trainer is one who actually understands the clients requirement and after analyzing him trains him according to his conditions because it is not possible that all clients need the same kind of treatment
secondly the trainer must teach in a entertaining way I often listening feedback from training courses where participants say, ‘...it was fun' or ‘I enjoyed myself'. So, does a great trainer have to make people laugh, be funny or encourage others to have fun? Again, I think this is something that is certainly important to training
I often listening feedback from training courses where participants say, ‘...it was fun' or ‘I enjoyed myself'. So, does a great trainer have to make people laugh, be funny or encourage others to have fun? Again, I think this is something that is certainly important to training
"What I make you laugh....I amuse you? What...I'm here to amuse you? To make you laugh? Like a f*ckin' clown, I amuse you?" - Joe Peschi
secondly the trainer must teach in a entertaining way I often listening feedback from training courses where participants say, ‘...it was fun' or ‘I enjoyed myself'. So, does a great trainer have to make people laugh, be funny or encourage others to have fun? Again, I think this is something that is certainly important to training
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Izzo
"What I make you laugh....I amuse you? What...I'm here to amuse you? To make you laugh? Like a f*ckin' clown, I amuse you?" - Joe Peschi
LO, yes to a great degree I think that is true in any service industry position, particularly when you will be with your client for 45-60 min. An enjoyable time is one key factor in the development of intrinsic motivation which is essential to long term success.
cheers
peter
__________________
Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
A great trainer trains his way out of a job by educating his client.
A great trainer will not have clients who started out as beginners and still think, perform, and look like beginners after training for two years.
If you can get somebody to go from beginner to intermediate, or intermediate to advanced, you're a great trainer. That's really all it takes. The standard is very low due to the huge number of "babysitter trainers" in this industry who make no effort to take their clients to another level.
what makes a great trainer is what makes a person great at any endeavor. That is that they have passion for their trade. I cannot tell you the trainers I see who sit in the gym with dis-passionate looks in their eyes (AKA bored) while thier clients are doing work. When I see one who is "with" their client I know that I have spotted a great one or at least one who has the potential to be great.
And ditto to the creed above as well. That is icing on the cake to the foundation of having passion for the job.
__________________
The BIGGER I get the smaller you look
Very interesting topic. I am a Personal Trainer part-time, and a teacher by day. So I totally agree about applying educational theory in my training practice. I also look for opportunities to actively "teach" my clients about the various components of their program - the "why" if you will, behind what we are doing. I also do "action research" (another education buzzword) by trying out the new things I learn (through continuing ed etc.) with my clients to see what works for them.
But the bottom line behind being a great trainer, I think, is understanding each clients' unique needs and goals, and then helping to achieve them. In my gym (a small, personal-training studio), we have mainly older people, many in their 60s or beyond. Many have been coming to us for years. They are not necessarily looking to "take it to the next level." They are mostly concerned with maintaining good function so they can go about their daily lives easily. Most/all have joint or other health issues.
Of course I always encourage them to push themselves...but that can look very different from pushing a young athlete in his/her prime. I believe the great trainers are the ones who know this, and know how to set/achieve challenging, satisfying goals that are unique to each client.
As one final aside, I can tell you that I have clients who truly don't really want to work very hard. But they need me to "get them through it," and as long as I keep the program interesting and varied, they're happy, even if it's not truly challenging. Others want to push hard, because they're paying good money and want tangible results for it.
Like I said, it all depends on the client...wait, someone else said that before me!
I think that you will find education theory addresses this topic. ( the good learner/ the good teacher). Trainers are very much involved with the whole "learning process with their clients, and I think that many of the precepts of curriculum design, managing the learning process and overall curriculum design have interesting parallels.
Linguists (Nunan & Lamb 2001) look at things that I think should be an essential part of "training" (be it language or strength training, etc) and which by extension contribute to an effective program for the client.
1) Learning-centeredness
2) traditional "teaching vs negotiated learning" (high/low structure teaching)
3)Needs analysis (orientation:proficiency or humanistic or specific purpose)
4) goals and objectives..
I think that to be a successful trainer you must be more that a "good trainer"; you need to be able to developed a negotiated program (curriculum if you will) within the constraints of your own ability/knowledge, the client's needs/abilities, the institutional restrictions, and social conventions.
Cheers
Peter
high low structure teaching? negotiated.. whoa, tihs sounds good, can i have what you read please?
&** to respond to the main point though, i think humor and directness for example will be disagreed on by everybody, in how to treat the client, because you forget we want differen tthings
some of us want their money
some of us want them to get better
some of us want the mental income
some of us want to just be normal
and all of us are a mix of all of those to different degrees
meaning we will disagree 50% of the time at least
it really sucks when my really passionate speeches for example, do nothing for someone, and they just laugh at me
i mean i could be crying, and some people just wont give a shit
but, if i care about others, it is about them, not me and i am exploiting them, in the fact that i want them to be happy
HEY ALL OF YOU DO YOU HEAR ME
LOOK ME IN THE EYESSSSSSSS
I AM GOING TO EXPLOIT YOUR HAPPINESS, AND TRY TO HELP YOU BE HAPPY
high low structure teaching? negotiated.. whoa, tihs sounds good, can i have what you read please?
Thanks for your enthusiastic reply. I don't get many of them. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I only drop by here now and again since I am not a trainer and this thread had "gone cold".
Some of the issues in developing a learning/teaching program (approach was actually for language training)
But in a nutshell:
1) Learning-centeredness
learners need to "learn the material but also learn the process of learning - so the program would have twin goals, (in this case learn the process of building muscle/losing fat etc) so the the learner can reach a point where they can make an informed decision about where they "want to go".
2) traditional "teaching vs negotiated learning"
That is a tough one in a nut shell, but basically teacher centered vs student centered ; high/low structure teaching refers to the amount of autonomy that the learner has in a particular activity. (high - very controlled- low - less controlled)
3)Needs analysis (orientation:proficiency or humanistic or specific purpose)
I think this is straight forward : what is the orientation of the teaching approach?
4) goals and objectives..
Anyway, this can be found in
Nunan, D. & Lamb, C. (2001). Managing the learning process. In D. R. Hall & A. Hewings (eds.) Innovation in English language teaching. (pp. 27-45). Abingdon: Routledge.
I think, however, that you will find more applicable information in general education texts or curriculum development theory.
Perhaps Jennifer M could suggest some sources.
Cheers
Peter
__________________
Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
I'm interested to learn everyone's thoughts on distance (online) training. It's so tempting to be able to work with brilliant trainers and genuinely motivated clients outside one's area, but the inherent challenges seem insurmountable. Is this a realistic avenue to bridge the gap between people who can't find a good (local) trainer and trainers seeking good clients?
I went this route for a three month period, and I don't think it's right for me.
On my own, I could start up workout programs, but I couldn't quite commit to sticking to the routine of it all. Which for me was always the biggest challenge. Something would come up and throw off my schedule (I am VERY schedule oriented), and too many of those days would stop the workouts for months. I have a treadmill, stationary bike, free weights and a Weider Home Gym, so I had everything at home to do almost anything. I just COULDN't stick to it.
Enter the online trainer. Not as expensive as a live trainer and I didn't need to go to the gym. I just needed the accountability factor. I'm thinking, if I have to log into my "trainer" every day and explain why I ate three doughnuts and skipped out on my 30 min cardio, I would start sticking to my workout plan.
The 1st mth started out pretty decent. Based on info that I provided (stats, desired results); I was given an upper/lower body workout plan. In addition, I needed to submit a 3 day look at what I eat every day. This was probably the best thing that I got out of this. I used to eat a lot of microwaveable lunches, 100 snack cakes, Crystal Lite...processed foods. I don't remember what she said, but b/c of her direction, I've pretty much eliminated these types of foods from my diet (100 cal snacks are now usually reserved for trips).
After the 1st few weeks, her feedback began to falter off and I wasn't getting the earful that I expected on the days/weeks that I didn't complete my program. That pretty much took me back to how it was when I was on my own.
Based on this experience, I came to the conclusion that for me, I would need to have a physical accountability to someone and an actual person pushing me to do what I am capable of doing. On my own...I wouldn't necessarily choose some of the weights that my current trainer gives me. And...I would do my requisite 10-12 reps and stop. My current trainer tells me to "give him one more."
But this all could have been about an online trainer that may just have needed more experience. Plus, I know now that I need someone in my face making me do that extra rep or set.
Thank you for your response, Brwnsgr. I appreciate you sharing your experience with me.
I guess if one is mostly needing that accountability thing, online training *could* work... if the trainer can cintinually dish out the smackdown it sounds like you were seeking. :-)
I don't need accountability (I'm waaaay too driven/OCD), so am more interested in how online trainers deal with the initial assessment (balance, mobility, flexibility), teach proper form (both initially and when bad habits develop), and cultivate a trusting relationship. Or do they?
Maybe most people really do just need that accountability element and a good template for their exercise and nutrition. It's quite possible that online training really work for someone like me.
I'm not a trainer, (love to be someday) but for now I am the client!
IMO in order to be a good trainer you really have to be good at reading people. A bit of a psyche background may help also. Being able to note what their mental needs are as well as physical will go a long way. Being able to figure them out quickly and re-adjust is a huge plus.
I'd also have to agree with a lot said here thus far...especially the parts about being passionate about what you do and about always learning. A good trainer should be a good student as well!!
And lets face it...if you don't wanna be there...we can tell!
I'm not a trainer but these are 4 things (there are more) that I see as important in order for one to be a good trainer.
1. Motivate their clients.
2. Get clients results by helping them achieve their goals while fixing their weaknesses and imbalances and preventing injury.
3. Educate their clients with their knowledge and not simply tell client to do action A, followed by action B without giving out any knowledge of why he has to do this.
4. Personalize and cater to each individual client's needs. A 55 year old overweight woman who wants to lose some weight and improve her overall quality of life doesn't necessarily need the same generic bodybuilding program that you give to your 18 year old clients.
at what they do because the client is receptive. The more and more I work with different populations, I understand that in order for me to fulfill my passion and expedite my knowledge, it is really choosing the right clients. As someone once said, the client is your "walking billboard", and it is VERY true. A good client makes a great trainer.
Any thoughts?
That's the great thing about this profession - You have the freedom to only work with the clients that you can help the most - This lets you specialize and develop your niche - So to your niche, you are a great trainer.
IN my view it all starts from your passion, if you are passionate about helping people get to the places they want to be you will do the following:-
- be client focused
- be goal focused
- be motivating
- keep learning
A great trainer has "the gift." What is that? Well, those who have it know...those who don't, well, don't! Not trying to sound cocky in the least...it's just that it's so evident these days in our industry who's actually in it because their heart's in it. Clients can see this. It's something that can't be faked, bought, or taught. A great trainer walks their talk. They eat, breathe, live, and love health and fitness. A great trainer spends a majority of their free time getting their hands on as much fitness-related info as possible, to expand their horizons and better serve their clients.
A great trainer doesn't have to TRY to be great.
__________________ "If you love what you do, you'll never have to work a day in your life." Visit my blog:"Outside the Box" Training!
A great trainer walks their talk. They eat, breathe, live, and love health and fitness.
YES - This isn't a profession you can fake your way through to be great - Like you say, you have to eat, breath, live, and LOVE it in your every day life - Clients see this and feed off of it -
I jumped in a little late on this thread and I only quickly browsed what everyone else said so I apologize if I am reiterating someone else’s thoughts. I feel a great trainer is someone who truly cares for their clients like an extended member of their family. A great trainer helps their client find their own path to success instead of trying to squeeze them into a mold that worked for another person. Someone who inspires others without blowing their own horn. Someone who leads without judgment or condescension. Someone who gives advice when necessary, but also knows when to just listen and help a client brainstorm their own solutions to obstacles. Someone who can help clients see their own potential and realize it. A great trainer is someone who is always trying to be a better trainer because, as I think someone else pointed out, being a great trainer is not a destination it's an ongoing process.
I went this route for a three month period, and I don't think it's right for me.
On my own, I could start up workout programs, but I couldn't quite commit to sticking to the routine of it all. Which for me was always the biggest challenge. Something would come up and throw off my schedule (I am VERY schedule oriented), and too many of those days would stop the workouts for months. I have a treadmill, stationary bike, free weights and a Weider Home Gym, so I had everything at home to do almost anything. I just COULDN't stick to it.
Enter the online trainer. Not as expensive as a live trainer and I didn't need to go to the gym. I just needed the accountability factor. I'm thinking, if I have to log into my "trainer" every day and explain why I ate three doughnuts and skipped out on my 30 min cardio, I would start sticking to my workout plan.
The 1st mth started out pretty decent. Based on info that I provided (stats, desired results); I was given an upper/lower body workout plan. In addition, I needed to submit a 3 day look at what I eat every day. This was probably the best thing that I got out of this. I used to eat a lot of microwaveable lunches, 100 snack cakes, Crystal Lite...processed foods. I don't remember what she said, but b/c of her direction, I've pretty much eliminated these types of foods from my diet (100 cal snacks are now usually reserved for trips).
After the 1st few weeks, her feedback began to falter off and I wasn't getting the earful that I expected on the days/weeks that I didn't complete my program. That pretty much took me back to how it was when I was on my own.
Based on this experience, I came to the conclusion that for me, I would need to have a physical accountability to someone and an actual person pushing me to do what I am capable of doing. On my own...I wouldn't necessarily choose some of the weights that my current trainer gives me. And...I would do my requisite 10-12 reps and stop. My current trainer tells me to "give him one more."
But this all could have been about an online trainer that may just have needed more experience. Plus, I know now that I need someone in my face making me do that extra rep or set.
Thanks for sharing this story with us, I think it brings up another whole discussion of intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation. The people who achieve the most success in fitness are those who tap into their intrinsic motivators. Many people, including many trainers, view trainers as people whose job it is to stand over someone and demand more effort. This is a form of extrinsic motivation that works for some, however as you've pointed out, it only works as long as that person is there to hold you to task. I would suggest looking a little deeper into why it is that you want to make the changes in your life. Going beyond your goals to the reasons that you want to achieve them. How will your life be different once you have reached your goals? If you can find those answers then you will have all the motivation you'll need and you will become more self empowered. Your trainer then becomes an educator instead of a disciplinarian. Their job becomes pointing you in the right direction and jogging along behind to make sure your on the right path instead of dragging you along it.
I'm not a trainer, but I've had one for nearly the past year. I'd say that one trait in a great trainer is someone who is interested in me and my progress - who will cheer the leaps ahead, and fix the steps back. That said, having an overall plan to achieve the goal (over at least a few different workouts, where the workouts last 4-6 weeks) not only goes back to taking an interest, it reflects the know-how to create such a program. Education of course is important too, as I like to know how things fit together, and why I'm doing what I'm doing. Motivation isn't really a problem for me, so I don't need a cheerleader, BUT, I've found one of the chief values in having a trainer is that he gives me things to do I'd not have thought or I thought were beyond my abilities.
__________________
Tom
No "happy hours" makes for a lot of miserable days. - Mahler
What Makes a Great Trainer?
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