ACE Personal Trainer Manual 5th Edition

Chapter 3: Communication and Teaching TechniquesLesson 3.2

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• After completing this session, you will be able to: Use and apply motivational interviewing techniques

to establish rapport Identify different learning styles and implement

teaching techniques with clients List and discuss the three stages of motor learning Incorporate effective modeling strategies to build

credibility with clients Give appropriate feedback Design behavioral contracts for clients Develop communication strategies to help build

rapport with clients

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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• Unless a client has made a decision to change, his or her exercise attempts are likely to fail.

• Motivational interviewing:Refers to a method of speaking with people

in a way that motivates them to make a decision to change their behavior

Is designed to show supportive concern while challenging a client’s current behavior

May help clients feel the need to become more active and make a decision to start exercising

Is used by a personal trainer to create awareness in clients that a sedentary lifestyle will likely cause health problems

MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES

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MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES

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ENHANCING CLIENT SUCCESS

• Once the client is ready to begin exercising, the personal trainer can enhance client success in many ways: Setting up self-monitoring systems Using individualized teaching

techniques Allowing clients the opportunity for

focused practice

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ENHANCING CLIENT SUCCESS

• One of the most effective ways to support behavioral change is by self-monitoring.

• A personal trainer can support self-monitoring by: Offering the client a system for recording supervised and

unsupervised exercise sessions, such as a workout card or electronic system

Recording the exercise, resistance, repetitions, and sets of a workout, and/or the time, intensity, or heart rate

• Self-monitoring also: Gives clients a more objective view of their behaviors and

increases self-awareness Enhances client–trainer communication as the personal trainer

reviews the workout record and asks questions about what is or is not working

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ENHANCING CLIENT SUCCESS

• Understanding how people learn most effectively can help personal trainers provide sound instruction to diverse groups of clients.

• Trainers should provide individualized teaching techniques: Auditory learners may like a lot of explanation or ask several questions. Visual learners learn by watching and appreciate longer

demonstrations with less talking. Kinesthetic learners learn by doing and needing to feel the movement

before catching on.• Once a trainer learns what works best for each client, he or she

should emphasize the preferred learning style.• Additionally, teaching pace should also be modified for each client.

While some catch on to new skills quickly, others do so more slowly and require more patience and support on the part of the personal trainer.

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ENHANCING CLIENT SUCCESS

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ENHANCING CLIENT SUCCESS

Tell me and I’ll forgetShow me and I may rememberInvolve me and I’ll understand

--Chinese Proverb

• Tell, show, do approach• Motor skills will be taught most effectively if the following

points are kept in mind: Remind beginners that it takes time and practice to

improve motor skills• Introduce new skills slowly and clearly:

Keep explanations short and clear. Briefly demonstrate the skill and allow clients time to

watch.• Allow clients the opportunity for focused practice:

Once the personal trainer has “told and shown,” the client is ready to “do,” or perform the motor skill.

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“TELL, SHOW, DO”

By using the “tell, show, do” method, teach a friend, family member, or client an exercise he or she has never performed before.

Ask the client for feedback on the experience and brainstorm ways to improve this aspect of your training sessions.

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GIVING APPROPRIATE FEEDBACK

• Once a client has tried the skill, the personal trainer should respond by giving helpful feedback.

• The feedback should do three things: Reinforce what was

done well Correct errors Motivate clients to

continue practicing and improving

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EFFECTIVE MODELING STRATEGIES

• Personal trainers should model the same healthful lifestyle advice they are giving to their clients:

Enhances credibility of the trainer and promotes the notion that physical fitness will deliver benefits that are worth the cost

Promotes the attitude that physical activity can feel good, reduce stress, and build confidence

Emphasizes exercise as a means for improving health rather than as punishment

Emphasizes improvement in the quality of life, rather than exercise being something painful one must do to lose weight or look better

Emphasizes self-acceptance along with self-discipline

Promotes a healthy attitude when working with younger and often impressionable clients

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BEHAVORIAL CONTRACTS

• Behavior-change contracts may be motivational for some clients and typically spell out the behavior the client is expected to perform: Contracts that offer extrinsic

motivation, such as a reward, are helpful to get clients started.

Contracts with process goals work better than those with product goals.

• Contracts can also be problematic:May instill a sense of frustration when

high expectations are not met

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STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

• Cultural competence can be defined as the ability to communicate and work effectively with people from different cultures.

• Personal trainers: May find it takes more effort to build trust with

people who differ from themselves in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, size, socioeconomic status, educational background, ability, and fitness level

Can develop cultural competence by taking time to learn about clients’ beliefs, attitudes, and lifestyles

Can improve their rapport-building ability by learning as much as possible about each client, and by trying to understand clients different from themselves

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STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

• Building rapport with some clients may require extra effort: Those reluctant to begin exercising Clients who are afraid of getting injured Those who are depressed or anxious about their health Clients with negative experiences, prejudices against athletes or

physical educators• Some clients may have less trust in young people, old people,

women, people who appear to be overweight, or people of a different ethnicity

• Nevertheless, personal trainers who behave professionally and try to understand their clients often win the hearts and trust of even the most reluctant clients.

• Personal trainers should mention their certifications, credentials, various training programs, and other continuing education opportunities they pursue or have completed.

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STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

• Empathy and rapport evolve over time from good communication between the personal trainer and client.

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STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

• Understanding empathy and professional boundaries Empathy:

o Occurs when a trainer demonstrates understanding and acceptance toward the client

o Can be demonstrated without leaving one’s role as a professional

Personal Involvement: o Occurs when a trainer becomes friends or enters

into a romantic relationship with the cliento Causes difficulty in maintaining a client–trainer

relationship The professional effectiveness of a personal

trainer is undermined when he or she becomes too personally involved.

The client–trainer relationship should cease immediately if a romantic relationship has developed.

• Over time, personal trainers develop certain boundaries that allow them to behave professionally and express empathy without becoming best friends with clients.

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STAGES OF LEARNING

• Personal trainers must learn to provide helpful direction to clients through the three stages of learning: Cognitive stage of learning:

o Occurs most frequently in the early stages of the client–trainer relationship

o Clients are trying to understand the new skillo Movements are often uncoordinated or jerkyo Be careful to not overwhelm clients by teaching too many new skillso Use the “tell, show, do” teaching technique

Associative stage of learning: o Clients begin to master the basics and are ready for specific feedback

to help refine the skill o Balance giving an appropriate amount of feedback

Autonomous stage of learning:o Clients are performing motor skills effectively and naturallyo Teach less and monitor more

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CONTINUED CLIENT INTERACTIONS

• Personal trainers must continue to build productive relationships with clients throughout all of their daily interactions by using the following techniques: Periodically reinforce credentials to help clients perceive personal

trainers as educated and competent. Prepare for each session by cultivating a mindful focus:

o Review the materials on upcoming clients and set goals.o Allow for effective listening and fresh energy with each client.o Ask clients for feedback.

Use electronic communication channels with discretion:o Give clear directions for contact.o Maintain all social media sites or pages in a professional manner.

Ensure training sessions are fun and enjoyable, though playfulness should never “cross the line” or detract from the exercise plan.

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SUMMARY

• Successful personal trainers consistently demonstrate excellent communication and teaching techniques throughout the various stages of the client–trainer relationship.

• Personal trainers who work with clients who differ from themselves can benefit from developing cultural competence and learning about their clients’ beliefs, attitudes, and lifestyles.

• Trainers must become adept at developing an empathetic understanding of their clients while maintaining professional boundaries.

• Personal trainers must learn to provide helpful direction to clients through all the stages of learning and incorporate effective communication and teaching techniques into their daily interactions with clients.