by Janine Stichter, PhD (Behaviorist) and Scott Schutte (Coach/Gym Owner)
As personal trainers and gym owners, we take pride in our knowledge and expertise. Our in-depth understanding of nutrition, physiology, and exercise programming, honed through years of study and professional experience, makes us valuable resources to our clients. However, there comes a point when we need to step back and reassess. Could our knowledge be inadvertently creating a barrier to our clients' progress? It's a difficult question to grapple with, but it might be the most critical one we ask ourselves.
At the core of this issue is the realization that we - and our clients - often possess enough knowledge to facilitate weight loss and fitness improvements. The basic principles of calorie control, balanced nutrition, and regular physical activity are widely known. The shortcoming, then, is not generally a lack of understanding, but rather a failure in the application of that knowledge.
The Problem with the Information - Implementation Gap
In our desire to provide the best service possible, we may lose sight of this critical reality: the most comprehensive fitness or nutritional plan is only as good as a client’s ability to adhere to it. We may craft detailed, scientifically-backed plans that are perfect on paper, yet ineffective in practice. Why? Because we are prioritizing the education we've received over the individual needs and lifestyles of our clients.
Our clients live complex lives filled with commitments, preferences, and personal obstacles that all factor into their ability to implement a fitness regime. Without considering these personal realities, our perfect high-end solutions are bound to falter.
More Knowledge Isn’t Always the Solution
As fitness professionals, at least the good ones, we have an insatiable desire to learn. We immerse ourselves in the latest research, eager to find the next revolutionary workout regimen or nutrition plan that will yield faster, more impressive results. But the reality is that: acquiring more knowledge about exercises or nutrition does not guarantee better outcomes for our clients. It could, in fact, make things more confusing.
If we continually introduce new information to our clients - more complex workouts, stricter dietary guidelines, the latest fitness trends - we risk overwhelming them. This influx of new information might seem beneficial to us, but to our clients, it can be a barrage of noise, discouraging adherence and diminishing results.
Shifting Our Educational Focus
So, how do we address this? The answer lies in shifting our educational focus. We need to place a greater emphasis on understanding our clients' lifestyles, their challenges, their motivations, and their unique physiological responses. The real skill is not in crafting a flawless plan, but in guiding a client to integrate that plan seamlessly into their life.
We should also consider broadening our knowledge base, moving beyond nutrition and exercise science. Understanding behavioral psychology, for example, can help us facilitate lasting behavioral changes in our clients. Learning basics about the power of minimal effective dose because short term memory is just that, short term, so individualized plans and specific strategies should be provided in small stages and during a designated time where clients can process, ask questions and retain next steps. This isn't while training. Finally, we also need to remember that behaviors are symptoms. They are correlational, not causal. So we need to understand root cause behavior principles and understand why and how to address perhaps the same behavior for two different clients.
The Power of Simplicity
There's a profound power in simplicity. Rather than complicating our clients' lives with increasingly complex regimens, we should strive to simplify. A fitness plan should be as simple as possible, but no simpler. It should be flexible enough to accommodate unforeseen circumstances, but rigid enough to provide structure. Above all, it should be crafted with the client's life in mind, not just the science that backs it up.
Ultimately, our role as fitness professionals is not to dictate, but to guide. It's not about imposing our knowledge onto our clients, but about helping them navigate their unique fitness journey. By addressing our intellectual blind spots, we can become more effective coaches and allies, and most importantly, we can unlock better results for our clients.
Remember, the greatest success isn't the number of exercises we know or the complexity of our nutritional plans, but our ability to support our clients in making sustainable lifestyle changes. To truly excel in our roles, we need to go beyond conventional learning. We need to immerse ourselves in understanding the human behavior element of fitness.
Beyond Fitness: Engaging with Lifestyle
A beneficial step we can take is actively engaging with the various facets of our clients' lifestyles. This involves initiating conversations about their daily routines, stressors, dietary preferences, sleep patterns, and even their social environments. We can draw upon these insights to craft plans that fit seamlessly into their lives, rather than requiring them to drastically overhaul their routines.
In essence, our training plans should be a tool that clients can adapt to their lives, not a challenge they have to overcome.
Bridging the Gap: Communication and Empathy
Another critical area to explore is our communication skills. As trainers and gym owners, we should not just instruct, but listen, empathize, and motivate. This isn't always straightforward – it requires a an understanding of human behavior and psychology.
Adopting a clear processing for asking key questions about lifestyle, preferences and concerns can assist in effective and empathetic communication. Their reality is not ours and we need to suspend judgment and instead listen for key constraints, natural strengths and current motivators, Active listening, and positive affirmations help inspire clients to harness their internal motivation. This approach can help them overcome personal obstacles and drive them towards their fitness goals.
Embrace a Growth Mindset
It’s important to embrace a growth mindset as fitness professionals. Learning is an ongoing journey, and the more we adapt our knowledge to the needs of our clients, the better equipped we are to guide them towards their goals.
While understanding the intricacies of nutrition and fitness is undoubtedly important, we must also recognize the value of other skill sets. Educating ourselves about behavioral change, motivational techniques, and effective communication can drastically enhance the value we provide to our clients.
Conclusion
In closing, it’s crucial to remember that a trainer’s or gym owner’s real strength lies not in their knowledge of workouts or diets but in their ability to facilitate lasting change in their clients' lives. It’s not about how much we know; it's about how effectively we can guide our clients towards sustainable, healthy lifestyles.
By shifting our focus from purely technical knowledge to a more comprehensive understanding of our clients' unique circumstances and needs, we can address our intellectual blind spots. This approach will not only enhance our professional growth but also ensure we are genuinely helping our clients achieve their fitness goals.
Let's embrace this challenge, armed with the knowledge that our commitment to our clients and our willingness to adapt our approach can make all the difference. After all, our ultimate aim is to empower clients, aiding them in their journey towards better health and fitness – and that journey begins with us.
You can learn more about behavior coaching and how this can improve your income and impact at healthybehaviorinstitute.com.
About Janine Stichter & Scott Schutte
Scott Schutte is a personal trainer, weight loss behavior coach, gym owner, and fitness educator. He has successfully guided thousands of people on their fitness journey. His education and experience have led him to work with many clients and educate other fitness professionals on how to be successful coaches with an emphasis on behavior change.
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Dr. Janine Stichter has been in the field of behavior change for over 20 years as a researcher, author, educator and practitioner. She understands the importance of behavior science for client success. Her career has focused on understanding the why behind behavior and identifying clear practices that are practical and result in sustained change.
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Most recently they co-founded the Healthy Behavior Institute, an educational platform for fitness professionals and gym owners that specialize in behavior modification. Their educational materials provide professionals with a clear system to add an additional service for better client results and increased revenue.