Coaching Points of View: Getting a Clearer Picture
Written by Nuno Costa
I’ve been in the fitness industry my entire life and I’ve enjoyed just about every moment of it – there’s not one day that’s like the one before. Regardless of my position and job, the one thing that I noticed was how it can be challenging for our clients to achieve their goals. Here are a few things that I have learned along the way that have been impactful working with clients.
You need to spend some time figuring out what your goals and values are; a lot of times clients come into the gym with a particular set of goals and have no idea of what it takes to achieve them. Having goals and values allows you to see the connection between the two and realize what it is that you want to achieve and why. I’ve noticed that initial goals are not always permanent; be flexible, as what you thought you wanted will change over time. It is our job as coaches/trainers to guide you and continue to provide answers and solutions to get you closer towards your goals that are in alignment with your values.
Be clear on what your abilities are. I’ve made the mistake of programming things for clients that they were incapable of completing. If I had taken the time upfront to do a little bit more digging I would have known better. It’s also important to find out what a person believes they can do. In my experience, most of the time, clients will often underestimate their own potential. Your coaches will have a better idea what you might be able to achieve so use them accordingly. It’s essential that you have confidence to go after some things that you don’t think you are capable of achieving and you may just surprise yourself along the way which I have seen happen time and time again.
Spend some time figuring out what perceptions you have in terms of how others see you. This may seem a little complex but it’s not. We all care about the way people think about us – some of us more than others. What’s key is that we try to achieve our goals for our own reasons and not outside motivations, but sometimes extrinsic motivation can be helpful. We shouldn’t care what others think of us – but deep down I think we all do. We have a sense of wanting to belong and be accepted by our peers. Find out how your goals are impacted by perceptions.
Get clear on what your limiting beliefs are. This will be key in helping you succeed. You may not be aware of what these are initially and you may need to do some digging, but if you can uncover these you have a good chance of getting to where you want to be. A lot of times we stop just short of achieving our goals because we don’t truly believe we can’t reach them. Sometimes when you have a mental block of going heavier over a certain weight; a 200 pound front squat or a 300 pound Clean. You make the weight right before that look super easy, but as soon as we put those 2.5# plates on each side, all of a sudden it seems as if there’s an extra 20 pounds on the bar. In the past I’ve used kilos instead of pounds with clients to help them overcome their own limiting beliefs since they don’t know exactly what’s on the bar. Try this next time you go for a PR and see if it works.
As a coach, I am aware that I play an important role in my clients lives – they may only spend an hour a day with me three to four times a week, but that time can have a huge impact in their life outside the gym. I challenge you to spend some time thinking about what your goals and values are, take the time to understand who you are and what’s important to you and anything is possible! I’d love to hear some of the things that have made the most difference in your experience as you’ve continued to develop as an athlete.