Do you ever get burned out?

Christina · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 877

Do you guys ever feel like you want success for some of your clients more than they want it? How do you keep from getting burned out when this happens?

muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Posts: 398 Location: New Castle, PA

I think you have to come to the realization that there is only so much of your client that you can control.

I mean, you are there with them 1, 2 or 3 hours a week max, what they choose to do outside their time with you that will be constructive or destructive to their goals is out of your hands.

It's important to maintain enthusiasm for the progress your client makes, but be careful not to project your high expections of how they progress on to them. As trainers we tend to be a tad bit more ambitious than the client and they may not be progressing as fast as we would like. (Again, this has more to do with how disciplined they are outside of your time together than it has to do with how good a trainer you are. )

Convey good, useful information in simple to understand terms and your client should show progress. But again, there's only so much you can control outside their time together with you. You can't shoulder 100% of the burden of the clients progress on yourself, that's just not realistic.

I know I refer back to my one client that wanted "Madonna Arms" a lot, but seriously, I felt the same way about her to the point I dreaded training her, until finally someone complimented her on her arms and she told me and then she was re-energized to continue training with me more! Sometimes it takes that outside comment for a client to actually show more enthusiasm and want success more.

Did that help?

Did that make sense?

I'm sure others will weigh in with their thoughts,

Dave

Christina · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 877

Yes, Dave, that definitely helps. I care a lot about my clients and I worry about one in particular. I see a person with so much potential and she just doesn't believe in herself. It tears me up!

Christina

megfit · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:34 am Post subject:

Grin; It's called "LIFE COACHING".....

What I love about coaching clients is it totally takes me out of the responsibility mode and puts it all on them.

What I also did around the time I started coaching was cut down clients to mostly 1 day a week. I still have one client who I see twice a week, and he's stuck in that dependent mode (sigh), but the others HAVE to either figure out how to work on their own or realize it's not worth the money they pay me.

But, grin: I'm also in the 'exit' mode when it comes to training...

Seriously, though, Christina, adding coaching techniques to training creates a whole new dynamic!

Margie