Personal training is one of the best ways to get in shape, but it is a big investment for most people and results are not immediate so it can be many months before you know if you made a mistake. Wouldn't you want to know ahead of time if it is going to be a good investment?
My daughters were in competitive gymnastics and cheer for years, and after awhile I got to the point that I could walk into a competition and almost immediately tell which teams were going to be in the finals. It wasn't from watching the athletes either, it was from watching their coaches. The lessons I learned over the years from watching winning coaches carry over to what you should look for when choosing a personal trainer. Here are 5 things you should look for in a personal trainer or a coach.
Photo Courtesy of Pure Performance Fitness located in Springfield, IL |
5 Things To Look For In A Personal Trainer
5. Good Personal Trainers Care About Their Students
Does your personal trainer appear to care about you? Look for little details like them asking a lot of questions about your goals. The best trainers and coaches I've ever worked with truly care about their students and will push them to achieve their goals because they care. Injuries can happen when people are being pushed to their limits even with the best trainers, but good trainers care and have a way of doing things safely that minimize those injuries. Ask your trainer how they minimize injuries and pay attention to how many questions they ask about your goals.
4. Good Personal Trainers Have a Solid Reputation
Does your personal trainer have a good reputation? Look for reviews online, on Facebook and Google. Better yet, talk to some of their current students and ask about their experience. Do they have a reputation for being a good trainer? If you get enthusiastic responses to those queries, there's a pretty good chance you've found a good trainer.
3. Good Personal Trainers Believe in What They Are Doing
I almost said that a good personal trainer should be passionate about what they are doing, but perhaps a better way to say that is that they believe in what they are doing. A coach or a trainer doesn't have to be bubbly and passionate all the time to be a good one, although that may help keep you motivated. What they do need is to fully believe in what they are doing. You can see this in how they talk and how they live their lives. Ask yourself, do they truly believe that health should be a way of life?
2. Good Personal Trainers Practice What They Preach
Does your personal trainer look like what you want to look like? While there are exceptions to the rule, you usually want a trainer that looks like they spend time in the gym and eat healthily. If they don't practice what they preach, there's a disconnect somewhere. Ask yourself if this trainer or coach appears to practice what they preach.
1. Good Personal Trainers Pay Attention to Details
Know how I always knew which teams would win during our competitions? I would look for the coaches that were constantly giving feedback to their students. Point that toe, straighten that arm, not like that do it like this (demonstration of technique). They weren't yelling at their students or putting them down, they were simply giving them regular feedback. Winning coaches constantly gave feedback to their athletes during practice. The book The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How., which is an in-depth study on how talent is formed, found this habit to be the biggest distinguishing factor between coaches who consistently produce world-class champions, and those who were merely ok.
When looking at a personal trainer, you should try to see them in action. Are they correcting people's form? Are they involved? Or did they scribble something on the board and go off in the other room while their students struggle through the workout on their own? This feedback was what I looked for in order to figure out which team was going to the finals. Coaches who paid attention to detail and gave regular feedback to their athletes were consistently the ones whose teams won.
John Wooden, a coach whose team won ten NCAA championships, seven in a row which is double that of any other team, put it this way. “It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” Tweet This
“It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” -John Wooden
If you look at nothing else when selecting a personal trainer, look for a personal trainer who pays attention to the details.
Like the article? Make sure to share and sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay motivated! Good luck on your fitness journey!
About the Author
Don Smith
Happily married with five kids, Smith owns a technology company, is the founder of this site, has served on the board of directors for multiple companies, and loves playing soccer, hiking, and mentoring.
A Unique Life Lesson I Learned From Exercising Every Day
Have you ever wondered what’s possible for you – what you’re truly capable of? I believe the vast majority of us are
Comfort is a Lie
I was in the gym on Saturday, and Jeremy, my trainer, told me to do dips. “Give me three sets of ten.
Making Self-Care a Priority in the Journey for Personal Growth
A meaningful life is one sustained quest for personal growth. Increasingly, that term is folded in with “personal development,” popular terminology that
Getting back to healthy: Week 7 complete – Exhaustion
This week was exhausting, and unfortunately my progress reflected my exhaustion. After a nice run losing 9lbs in 5 weeks, I didn't
Making New Year’s Resolutions for the New Year THAT STICK!
It's that time of year again when most of us start thinking about making New Year's resolutions. Let me ask you, did
To Succeed, Do Something Small Today, and Tomorrow, and the Day After That
We often believe that the key to success is making some massive change in our lives. It is possible to take significant
Happy Birthday to Me – Life Lessons and a Birthday Request
Three years ago today, I published an article, “7 life lessons I've learned over the past 39 years.” Those lessons remain the
Take Your First Step in the Right Pair of Running Shoes
Runners need enthusiasm and a certain amount of love for what they do if they want to see it to the end.
Pamela Talks About Losing Weight on the Keto Diet
Pamela 3 Weeks Into the Ketogenic Diet My beautiful wife, Pamela, recently decided that she was not happy with her weight, and
Getting Back to Healthy: 3 Habits That Helped Me Lose 16lbs
I hope you've been enjoying my Getting Back to Healthy series where I have been documenting my weight loss journey. This article
Getting back to healthy: Week 5 complete – back in the healthy zone!
I'm excited to announce that after 5 weeks, I've officially crossed back into the healthy weight zone!!! For those of you just
When your personal trainer tells you to pick up a light weight
Eight months ago during our first session, my personal trainer, Jeremy, told me to go grab a pair of ridiculously light dumbbells.