Although all of the Personal Trainers and Strength Coaches out there are certified and should have the same basic knowledge of how to train clients, we all have our own opinions, theories and styles that we believe are the best way to help our clients reach their goals. The one thing that shouldn't be different, but often is, is the assessment. In my opinion, this is the most important step for your possible new client. This is when you start to develop a relationship with this potential new person in your life and figure out what this person is really looking for, what they are interested in, and most importantly, what this person actually needs.
Step one is to never let your new client wander around the gym looking for you. This makes you look unprofessional and just like another “trainer” on the fitness floor. You are not just another “trainer” to this newcomer of the gym…you are THEIR trainer! If you have never met this person yet, do the best you can to be available and easily noticed as soon as the person enters the gym. Once you have met, do the best you can to make your new client as comfortable as possible. Chances are he/she is gong to be extremely nervous.
Step two of the assessment could be the most challenging part of the process. What questions should I ask? Does this person already not like me? Do they really want to be here? These are only a few of the thoughts that will run through your head as the assessment starts. Let me offer a few hints for the new coaches out there. You should already have all of the questions and what you want to say ready to go. If you made yourself available, a conscious effort not to let your client wander, and made this new person comfortable there should be no reason they won’t like you. As the coach, it is your job to make this person want to come to the gym and show them the benefits of hard work.
Step three of the assessment is determining what made him/her finally join the gym, getting them started off on the right foot, and what your new client is really looking for. The hardest part for most people is admitting that they need to join a gym and start working out. Most people don’t like the feeling or the pain of working out, so there will be at least one reason, usually more, that this person is now seeking your help. Sometimes they see a picture of themselves and don’t like it, or maybe a friend has said something and the person didn’t like it and wants to make a change. Those are two of the more popular reasons, but those may not always be the reason, or there could be a bigger reason they have now joined a gym and are too embarrassed to say it. For example, a young male is looking to burn fat and gain muscle. To an ordinary person, that may mean he wants to improve at sports, or get faster. But to you, the professional, maybe he is getting bullied in school and wants to be able to stand up for himself, or maybe he’s trying to impress someone he likes. One more example is an elderly person comes in and says “I want to work on mobility.” Again, to an ordinary person, that could mean they are having trouble moving around, or just walking is painful. The first thought that would come to my head, the professional, is maybe they have a new grandson/granddaughter in their life and they would love it if they could get on the floor and play and not worry about not being able to get off of the floor.
Setting goals is a huge part of the assessment. You need to have something to work for and be able to achieve. In ALL of my assessments I make my client set short and long term goals. I believe the short term goal is the most important, so I help them set it. To be honest, all of my clients have the same short term goals. I believe the short term goal is the most important because he/she needs to start off right and make sure they are actually coming to the gym. So, the first goal I have them set is “getting into a routine of coming to the gym.” The gym needs to be a part of their schedule. I always make the comparison of the gym being like a business meeting, you have to go to see the benefits. It’s not always fun, but it is necessary. The next goal I have them set is “good decisions.” That means eating healthy, making better/healthier everyday decisions, and learning how to choose the gym over going out. Food is probably the one thing that will make or break you. I’m not a nutritionist, so I won’t go into how to eat healthy.
The long term goal is where it can confusing. This is when you ask your client what they are looking for in the end. They will probably have a laundry list of things they want to have happen. Your job is to pick the most important and most achievable goals they spit out. Along with picking the best ones, your job is to interpret what they actually mean. After we agree on the long term goals I always end with saying “There’s a difference between what people want and what people are willing to do.”
The fourth and final step to the assessment telling and showing your new client how you’re going to help them achieve their goals and why you are the best option for them. Everyone will have their own styles and ways of doing this last part. I normally start off by performing the FMS (Functional Movement Screening). This shows the areas that are weak and unstable. From there, I will introduce my new client to functional training and kettlebells.
Those are four of the basic steps/tools every fitness professional should be performing in an assessment. Obviously, you will go into more once you get to know this person. But, at the very least, those four steps should become apart of your everyday assessment.
Bryan Wehman
Personal Trainer
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