Good communicators do these things:
● Create a safe environment where challenging and emotional
issues can be discussed.
● Clear away distractions such as cell phones and focus on the
client.
● Ask questions to understand the meaning of what the
person is saying.
● Observe nonverbal cues such as body language.
● Provide empathy and validation.
Nonverbal and Verbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is the exchange of information through bodily
cues and not words. These forms of communication can have a major
impact on social interactions.
Nonverbal communication includes things such as facial expressions,
posture, and where you look. It is important to pay attention to these to
give off good cues to the client.
Verbal communication is through the use of words and how things are
said. It is important to pay close attention to words to avoid invoking
negative emotions in people.
Active Listening and Rapport Building
To be a good active listener, a fitness professional should use these
techniques in their conversations:
● Asking questions
● Reflecting
● Summarizing
● Affirming
● Asking permission
There are two main forms of questions to know about and utilize.
Close-ended questions can be answered with just one word. And
open-ended questions are questions that require longer responses and
allow you to learn more about the individual speaking.
Reflecting is important to let the client know you are listening and they
are understood. This has you repeating important information.
Summarizing demonstrates the depth of listening in the whole
conversation.
Using affirmations shows appreciation for clients and their strengths.
Asking permission recognizes the autonomy of the client.
Motivational Interviewing
This is defined as a client-centered, directive method for enhancing
intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence.
Applying Motivational Interviewing is done best through
self-discrepancy, change talk and sustain talk, avoiding arguments, and
through importance, confidence, and readiness.
Strategies to Enhance Exercise
Adherence
The health benefits of exercise depend on the commitment one has to the
programs.
Purchasing a gym membership oftentimes gives a strong intention to
stick with working out. And so, anyone who has gone far enough to
purchase personal training likely intends to exercise and stick with a
program.
People overestimate the estimated times that they work out in their
average week.
Behavioral Strategies
We have many different techniques to assist exercise adherence.
Goal setting is a main way to help with adherence to exercise. The goals
should fit the rules of SMART goals. This stands for specific, measurable,
attainable, realistic, and timely
Goals work through four main functions:
● Directing attention and effort toward relevant activities and
away from counterproductive activities
● Energizing action and effort
● Influencing persistence of effort
● Leading people to seek out goal-relevant information
To help with the search for long term goals, it is helpful to ask questions
such as these:
● What do you want to accomplish in the next 6 months?
● What do you want to accomplish in the next year?
● What does fitness success look like to you?
Enhancing Self-efficacy is a proven way to increase adherence to
exercise. This is often done simply by acknowledging clients’
improvements in fitness or any metric they may improve on.
Planning allows for helping intentions and behavior. Two behavior
change techniques to utilize are implementation intentions and coping
plans.
Self-monitoring is a good thing to ask clients to do for themselves and it
allows them to play a role and stay mindful in the process of changing
behaviors.
Some ways we can manage our time better are through these:
● Assigning priorities to daily tasks and completing the more
important ones first
● Not accepting every request for one’s time, keeping hours
open for unexpected events and personal needs.
● Turning key tasks into repetitive habits
● Scheduling buffer time between important tasks
● Implementing systems of organization
● Eliminating nonessential tasks
● Limiting time spent on empty activities like scrolling
through social media feeds
Cognitive strategies are important to understand and help with changing
the thoughts and attitudes that a client may have toward exercise and
physical activity.
Positive self-talk is best implemented when there may be the presence of
a lot of negativity toward exercise.
Imagery allows for help in imagining a situation and experience that will
enhance participation in exercise.
Psyching up helps motivate someone who may be new to exercise and
perhaps a bit apprehensive toward the experience.
The Initial Session
Success in the industry depends almost entirely on building lasting
relationships with your clients. Working on the skills highlighted in this
chapter to enhance that ability is essential.
In the initial consultation, the client will decide if they want to continue
this relationship with you and train with you.
It is important that throughout this meeting, you get a feel for their
readiness stage, understand their goals, listen to them, show support for
them, and collaborate to create an individual exercise program.
It would be best if you discussed any major health concerns the client
has, clarifying their fitness goals and reviewing their previous
experiences in the fitness realm.
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Chapter 4: Behavioral Coaching