Here it comes…the New Year's phenomenon where everyone’s drive to get in shape takes over. Resolving to get rid of all their nasty overindulgent habits, people push “health” to the top of their priority list. This propels them to the gym eager to drive away those horrible unhealthy monsters that filled their last few months of life.
Yet, as many embark on their journey toward health, they are met with the realization they have no clue where to begin. So, they turn to a fitness professional for some much-needed guidance.
As fitness professionals, we know that this is the busiest time of year, met with a demand of long hours at the gym and multiple new client orientations. And, several months down the road, we also know that those long hours will dwindle and many of the highly motivated people we saw in January will begin to lose the luster and motivation that got them there to begin with. We then point the finger at the clients for losing that drive and falling back into the same old nasty habits.
This is where we can “turn the tables,” and point the finger some where else…maybe even ourselves!
As these new clients come to the gym with hopeful glee and determination to complete the task at hand, we have to meet that drive with our own professionalism and extra effort to meet their requests. Let’s face it, at the beginning of the year, we trainers are motivated, too, and share that same level of energy. However, come March, where will all that energy go?
That may be easy to answer for the client, as they will have to change the very behaviors that got them to where they were at to begin with; but for you as the trainer, where did all your energy go?
It is here that we can recognize that we are just as responsible for keeping our clients motivated at the beginning and throughout the pursuit of their goals. How do we do that?
1. Set an Expectation!
No, not for your clients, I mean YOU! Set an expectation or standard you can maintain throughout the year. In addition to keeping your energy level up, you could set an expectation of to always be on time, complete better follow-ups, make extra effort in your program design, or reach out to your clients more often. Let your expectations for yourself be known in the client orientation. We expect nothing less than the best effort from our clients; don’t you think they expect the same of us?
2. Create a Motivating Environment!
Many of the determined clientele rushing through the door may be driven to change a behavior, but most often something extrinsic is encouraging them to be there. For example, an upcoming class reunion or a family vacation could be their extrinsic motivator. As Daniel Pink states in his book Drive, “…The problem with extrinsic rewards… the only destination that matters is that some people will choose the quickest route there even if it means taking the low road.” When it comes to exercise and health, you will often see this exhibited through a quick-fix diet, or taking some magic supplement pill. As a trainer, don’t let their restricted view limit your ability to create an environment where exercise is the “reward.”
Within the client orientation find out what motivates them. What is it that they enjoy, and what is the purpose of getting in shape beyond “looking like Pamela Anderson”? With answers like these, you can program your sessions around autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
- Autonomy: You may have a goal for the client to complete a total-body metabolic workout for the day (which is a small task that must be accomplished multiple times to get them to their goal), but the client gets to choose HOW to get that total body metabolic workout. For example, their cup of tea might be a pool workout.
- Mastery: Give clients a task they are somewhat successful at, but still haven’t mastered. This drives them to keep doing it in the pursuit of mastery. (This is a tricky thing…we can program for mastery infinitely.)
- Purpose: Explain the reason behind the workout, but most importantly tie it to individual goals. Having a purpose is why people work hard in the first place.
By providing autonomy, mastery, and purpose in each session we are creating a motivating environment that encourages the client to keep coming back again and again.
So, before you throw in the towel on all the clients who will jump off the cliff without a parachute this January…Recognize that WE are the ones who need to provide that parachute if they are going to land safely!
Move More!
Hayley Hollander is a personal trainer, educator, and co-founder of Advanced Training Performance in Las Vegas, NV. She specializes in functional movement enhancement for all levels, sports conditioning, pre/post natal, weight loss, and endurance training.
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