What makes a highly competent Personal Trainer

How well do they execute their knowledge?

A trainer that has every qualification possible, is not necessarily the best trainer. In my experience of recruiting, mentoring and working with over a hundred personal trainers, knowing how to implement the knowledge is so much more important than having an overload of knowledge.

To add to that, what extent of knowledge do you need your trainer to have, in order to achieve your goals? If the Trainer has attained the basic 6 week online personal training qualification and gets the client the desirable results, no one can argue that they lack the qualities of a good Trainer. So no matter how much knowledge the Trainer has, executing that knowledge skillfully is what defines a good Personal Trainer.

2. Accountability Coach:

Can you rely on the Trainer to keep you accountable?

When you feel accountable, you turn up to your training sessions every day or every week  without fail. That gives you consistency, which eventually leads to results. The fact that you pay for these sessions, should not be the factor that keeps you accountable. The qualities which make an excellent Trainer a great accountability coach are these: The questions asked of you during your training, the systems used to remind you of training and your nutrition .. and the Trainer turning up promptly to every session, ready to get you results.

3. Motivational Expert:

Are they motivating you?

To be realistic, we must agree that there will be moments of failure. Whether it is not wanting to see the inside of a gym because you are exhausted or perhaps because you have ‘fallen off the wagon’. A trainer is there to tell you “It’s ok. But this is how we can fix it”.  If they can achieve this easily without saying too much and it resonates with you for weeks, this shows that your Trainer is skilled at motivating you. 

4. Proficient Niche:

Do they have a niche market?

All too often I have witnessed Trainers offer their services to clients who clearly are in need of specialised training. You would not go to a General Practitioner for a heart bypass. So why spend good money on a Trainer who may be very good within their own realm, but has no clue about the niche that you fall into. If you are a 50 year old man then look for the Trainer whose clients are mostly a) men b) as close to your age as possible. People like you are their proficient niche. Therefore that type of Trainer will almost know your phsycographic and demographic before you even meet.

5. Self Presentation:

How well do they present themselves?

If your Trainer takes very little care of his own appearance, how can you then expect that they will work hard to make you look good? A Trainer who presents themself well, shows that they care about their business and takes pride in what they do. As their client, they will want the same thing for you. That is, to look and feel great in order to enhance and achieve everything possible, in your career and personal life.

6. Reliable Service:

Will they be accessible when you need them most?

Having a hectic work and social diary makes it hard for many to get into the gym. Therefore having a Trainer to turn up on time, every time, is imperative to your motivation, accountability and the money spent on this service. If a Trainer manages their diary well (hopefully online, as written diaries are outdated, flawed, not transparent) they give the client consistency with training times. A prompt, reliable Trainer will be appreciated more than you think.