I was training my client on the deadlift recently and I came across a flaw in my coaching technique (yikes!!). My client was getting ready to do a set of band-resisted deadlifts and I was talking to her about a couple adjustments in her form. My client is analytical, so after I was done talking she got down to perform the deadlift and immediately froze. “What am I supposed to do again?,” she asked. I knew right then that my plethora of cues were overwhelming her brain. And one of my many coaching flaws was realized: I have the tendency to submerge my clients in directives without thinking about which ones are most efficient and effective for the particular client I’m working with. This is especially detrimental to a client who tends to overthink things. They need less cues, not more. If too many are given at once, this can lead to paralysis by analysis. It would be beneficial to pick 1-2 specific commands to focus on until those become second nature. Then, after successful installation of those instructions, pick 1-2 more and proceed in the same manner. I would surmise that you are bound to have much more progress keeping things simple then trying to overcomplicate and overwhelm your client with your vast knowledge of biomechanics!
And this instance of mine is a microcosm of a broader picture that I think is important to contemplate. Coaches and Personal Trainers need to “know” their clients. The “one size fits all” coaching and training is not a great recipe for success. Rather, it is important to study your clients and find out how they learn and respond. Are they a visual, auditory, verbal or physical learner? What makes them tick and what drives and desires do they have? What is their personality like? Analytical? Aggressive? Laid back? Self-Conscious? You need to discover who you are working with by asking questions and doing more listening and observing than talking. Once you ascertain information about who you are training, you will be able to refine your coaching style and subsequently, align your goals with theirs and find a common pathway to success.
As an example, it could be as simple as changing a verbal command from internal cue to an external cue for better client performance and adherence. Instead of using an internal cue such as “forcefully extend your knees” for a squat or deadlift, you could use an external cue such as “push the floor away from you” or “explode up toward the ceiling.” Further, I found external cuing to work particularly well when teaching a Romanian Deadlift, where I typically have a client stand with their back to a wall and say, “push your butt back to touch the wall behind you.”
Another circumstance might require that you demonstrate an exercise for someone who happens to be a visual learner. They might not do well at listening to your instructions and might need you to actually demonstrate the exercise (a novel concept, I know:). When showing a new exercise to a client and not being aware of their learning style, it is probably a good rule of thumb to verbally explain the exercise and also demonstrate it so that your client can be exposed to both methods.
One more illustration could be working with a client who is especially uncomfortable in the gym setting. They might feel intimidated or insecure or have the sense that everybody in the gym is watching them while they work out. In these situations, I definitely try to put them at ease and make them relax as much as possible. I usually make jokes at my own expense or be extra goofy (for those who know me this isn’t hard to believe). Once I get the client settled, I try to be extra encouraging and offer them as much positive reinforcement as possible. This makes them feel good and gives them an optimistic outlook in regard to the type of success they can have in the gym.
In summary, this is something that I wanted to share about the importance of communication. It cannot be overstated that communicating effectively with your clients will bring satisfying results. I know I just scratched the surface in regards to this complex subject but recommend doing more reflecting on this area. It will be time well spent and pay dividends in how your clients perform.