Standing out from the crowd is key to your success as a trainer, instructor or coach. There are a number of ways to do this. Working on your social media and gaining further certifications are both a great idea. Ultimately, however, you will need to provide a great training experience for your clients to thrive in this industry. Whether you train at a gym, coach on a field, teach in a studio or freelance online, the principles remain the same. Here are the things you should focus on to ensure that you receive stellar reviews every time and keep your clients coming back for more.
Innovate
With so many options to choose from, clients often search for the latest and greatest trends or something they have never seen before. This doesn’t mean that you have to throw out everything that already works for you and start again. Rather focus on constantly evolving, tweaking and refining your sessions. Innovation is all about being creative. It’s about setting trends rather than following them. This could mean combining methods from different practices, creating your own techniques or even coming up with a whole new way to exercise. There is no reason why you can’t invent the next CrossFit or become a social media sensation.
You might also want to experiment with new locations, unique styles of dress or anything else you can think of that will make your sessions memorable and enjoyable. Creating a persona can be a great way to make yourself stand out. You don’t have to be an actor or entertainer. This could entail something as simple as adding a catchphrase to the end of your class or always wearing the same quirky headband. If you have fun with it, your clients will too.
Be a pro
This part is not about being the best in your chosen field, it’s about good communication, time-management and all the other stuff that builds trust and confidence with clients. It’s impossible to provide a great training experience without these things, no matter how talented or qualified you are. Nobody likes to be kept waiting unnecessarily or spoken to rudely. On the other hand, maintaining clear communication and being courteous to your clients will win you a lot of goodwill and probably a few recommendations as well!
Being a true professional starts with these basics. Don’t make promises that you can’t keep. In fact, as a rule of thumb, it’s better to underpromise and overdeliver. Don’t double-book sessions, always arrive before your client(s) and be honest with them when you make mistakes or have issues that are out of your control. Finally, always hold yourself to higher standards than those around you expect.
Make it personal
There is a substantial body of evidence proving that we are more likely to trust people that we feel connected to on a personal level. To provide a great training experience, you must build relationships with your clients. If you are working one-on-one or in small groups, it’s important that you get to know each of your clients as well as possible. Find out their hopes, dreams and fears. Ask about their family, friends and how their weekend was. Doing these things will not only help you to build trust and confidence, it will also give you valuable insights on how to motivate your trainees and help you to design more personalized programs.
It’s equally important that you share your story with them. Your skills, experience and reputation are the things that get you noticed, but it is the feeling of connection a person has with you that often seals the deal. Being honest about the challenges you have faced and letting people in on some details of your life will help people to identify with you and create an emotional attachment.
This is especially true if you teach big classes or are trying to build your name on social media. If you cannot get to know everyone, at least let them get to know you. Reply to messages, emails and comments in a friendly manner. Organize group chats or discussions. The more you get involved, the more people will get involved with you.
Other tips on how to provide a great training experience
- Never stop learning and growing:
Even if you are at the top of your field, things change quickly. Stay up to date with best practices, medical & scientific developments and the latest trends in your field. - Admit when you don’t know the answer:
It’s better to be honest and tell clients when you don’t know the answer to a tricky question. You don’t want to be caught out by Google and bring into question all the other things you’ve told someone. Rather do the research yourself and get back to the client with an answer later. - Be flexible:
Don’t be too set in your ways, different things work for different people. If a client is really struggling with a certain exercise or drill, it’s often better to move on and find something that feels better for them. It is your responsibility to adjust to what works for your client and not the other way around.
