Introduction
Starting your career in personal training is extreme;ly exciting. It gives you the opportunity to help others reach their fitness goals and make a real difference in their lives. Like with any new thing you start in life, it is so easy to make mistakes at the beginning of your journey. This article will break down some of the key mistakes that you should avoid when you start your career as a personal trainer.
If you’ve just passed your level 3 personal trainer course and you’re looking to get a jump start in your career, be sure to also check out our article on how to get ahead as a new personal trainer.
Waiting for the Perfect Time to Go All In
One of the most common things that new PTs do is wait for the ‘perfect time’ to commit fully to the career. We know, it is natural to want to feel fully prepared; saving enough money, getting the right amount of experience, or waiting until you have ‘more time’. However, the reality of it is that there is rarely a perfect time. Remember, don’t look for the perfect conditions to start, when starting itself is the perfect condition.
Once you commit fully to personal training, you’ll realise that the alignment you need comes simply from doing the work, not waiting for those perfect conditions. Action beats perfect timing every time.
Overcoaching
One of the most common things we see in new personal trainers is overcoaching. This is in many cases rooted in over excitement and new coaches wanting to do their absolute best for every client. You might find yourself overloading clients with information, instructions and check ins. Whilst we understand that this comes from wanting your clients to succeed, you should remember that as a trainer your job is to simplify ideas and processes and guide your client. The key to effective coaching is communication that is simple, relatable and easy to integrate. Get an understanding of your clients’ needs and fulfil those, whilst staying clear of overwhelming them with complexity.
Over Pushing Intensity
Another symptom of new coaches can often be over pushing client limits. Whilst it is natural as a PT to want your client to push their limits, there’s a fine balance between pushing for improvement and pushing too hard too soon. In many cases, knowing what is not enough, what is just right, and what is too much in terms of intensity comes with experience. Always listen to your clients. Get an understanding of what they really want, and design a programme which prioritises their long term success based on progressive results, not short term satisfaction simply from effort.
Applying the Same Methodology for Everyone
Many PTs come from all sorts of backgrounds in fitness, whether it is bodybuilding, powerlifting, functional fitness, specific sports, crossfit or just a love for going to the gym.
It is very tempting for new PTs to apply the methodology from their background to their client work. You should always bear in mind that personal training requires you to be nuanced in your approach with every client. Base your individual methodologies on the client themselves, their goals and their specific situations, not just your own experience.
Whilst methodologies can provide valuable frameworks, they must be adapted to every client’s needs. You must stay open minded, be flexible and evolve your coaching approach over time. By all means, use your expertise from previous experiences, but only where relevant; you must not enforce your training philosophies.
Focusing Too Much on Yourself
Another early mistake in personal training is focusing too much on your own goals, your own methods and your own performance, rather than your clients’ needs. The first rule of growing your personal training business is refining and perfecting your offer, aka your product, aka your service. Don’t measure your success by the money you accumulate. Instead, focus on the main goal; your clients’ success. Follow this path, and the money will come. As soon as you shift the focus towards what you think will work best for your client, your coaching will become more effective, relatable and impactful.
Neglecting the Business Side of Personal Training
Many PTs fall into the trap of thinking all they need is raw passion and skill. However, real success requires you to know more than how to coach, but also have an understanding of business. You need to market your services, manage finances, acquire new customers and retain clients.
If you’re struggling with where to start with your personal training business, be sure to check out GROW, our PT business accelerator course.
Ignoring Continued Education
Whilst trends and science are constantly evolving and new things are always coming to light, as a personal trainer it is up to you to stay up to date with the latest research and methods. Never become comfortable with the knowledge you have. Instead, commit to lifelong learning, going to events and workshops chasing further personal training qualifications.
Conclusion
Starting a career in personal training can be hard, and we understand that sometimes excitement can get in the way. By being conscious of some of these common mistakes of new personal trainers, you can avoid them to stay on track to developing a good foundational practice. Being a great personal trainer requires a long term commitment to learning, adapting and putting your clients first. Mistakes are inevitable, but learning from them will ensure you thrive as a new PT! Whilst you’re here, be sure to take a look at our personal training courses.