If you are passionate about health and fitness and love helping people achieve their goals, you may have considered a career as a Personal Trainer. Having the ability to make a real difference to people’s lives can be incredibly rewarding, and is a main driver for why people enter the fitness industry. To succeed as a Personal Trainer, there are several qualities you need to ensure you get the most out of both yourself and your clients. Here are the key traits we have identified as being the most important and will help you have a fulfilling career in the fitness industry!
Educated
Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way first! To work as a Personal Trainer in anywhere in the world, you need to be qualified. Studying the Certificate in Personal Training is your step to ensure you are certified. It’s also important for Personal Trainers to keep upskilling and taking part in their own professional development. Things like attending workshops, completing short courses, reading literature, attending fitness events, listening to podcasts are all beneficial. Tthe fitness industry is constantly changing and evolving, so it’s crucial that Personal Trainers stay up-to-date with the latest training trends and research.
Patient
Fitness is a journey – results don’t just happen overnight and there are many obstacles, frustrations and setbacks that occur along the way. A great Personal Trainer is patient and understanding of the process, and can accept that everyone is different and will progress at different paces. It may take some time to understand what a client is trying to achieve and what type of personality they have, however once this is understood, the process of creating a customised training program can be much easier.
Effective Communicators
It is one thing to have a great knowledge base, but it is another skill to be able to communicate that effectively to a client. The best Personal Trainers not only know how to help you achieve specific fitness goals, but they are able to convey this in a way that is easy to understand and makes sense to their client. Strong communication skills are not only important on the gym floor when walking clients through exercise, but also through channels such as text, email or phone call.
Good Listeners
Good Personal Trainers ask quality questions and really listen to their client’s response. Not only should you listen to your client’s feedback about the workout, but you should also take an interest in what is going on in their life. The more you know and understand about your client, the better you’ll be able to help them.
Professional
Displaying professionalism as a Personal Trainer includes things like being on-time, dressing appropriately, and presenting yourself as a healthy, active person. If you set a good example, your clients will likely follow.
Personable
Being a people person is a highly-valued trait of a Personal Trainer. If you are genuine, authentic and are able to create positive relationships with people, you are much more likely to gain and retain clients. Personal Trainers are increasingly expected to be lifestyle and mindset coaches just as much as they are expected to be experts on how to get into physical shape, so employers really look for those who are approachable and friendly.
FLEXIBLE
Personal Trainers can certainly not have a one size fits all approach. Personal Trainers are faced with all types of people, personalities, injuries, goals, and excuses, so it’s important to stay flexible in your approach and ensure you can be adaptive to individual needs and wants. The best Personal Trainers will tailor programs around their client, and will also be open to changing things up based on a client’s situation.
Passionate
To be successful in any field, you must be passionate, and the fitness industry is no exception. You must have a passion for fitness, a passion to help others achieve their fitness goals, and a passion for what you do. If you bring optimism and energy to your sessions, this will be reflected onto your client. Sure, there will be times where this is not so easy, but if you let your positive attitude and passion shine as much as possible, it will be infectious.
If you have any suggestions or points for this list of what makes a successful trainer, we’d love to hear it. Feel free to send it to us or share your ideas on social media!
This article was originally published on our partner site, AFA Australia.