WHY COACHING IS YOUR GOLDEN TICKET TO SUCCESS
> What is coaching?
In fitness, coaching refers to the way in which we help clients adopt and maintain new behaviours so that they can live their best life. When we use the term coaching in life coaching, it is the way in which we help clients to identify areas in their life that are not consistent with how they want them to be and help them to do something about it.
In essence, coaching is about our ability to empower others. It is our ability to ask the right questions, listen attentively and collaboratively work with clients to foster new self-motivated behaviours. Doing this well helps you not only ensure clients achieve the results they desire but to do so in the knowledge you are proactively helping clients to more likely sustain their new healthier and more active lifestyle long after your time working with them as their coach.
> Why is coaching important?
At a time when type 2 diabetes has become epidemic across the planet and obesity continues to run rampant throughout society, coaching offers a lifeline to strengthen what we do as a health and fitness professional.
Coaching enables us to get to the root cause of people’s problems and offers solutions that truly transforms their lives. Coaching helps clients feel more confident in their own skin knowing they are back in control of their lives and, therefore, able to maintain results in the longer term. Finally, coaching helps clients stop self-sabotage, deal with existing limiting beliefs, replace old habits with new and once and for all stop them navigating back to “pre-set” once their initial efforts to change fade.
In summary, coaching offers personal trainers both the skills and tools they need to reach out and help more people, better help those they already train and differentiate themselves as a total fitness and lifestyle professional.
> What is coaching not?
Coaching is not just another term for training people. It is not about form and technique. It is not about advising people, educating people or directing people to eat a certain way. Coaching is philosophically, conceptually and operationally the opposite of training people. It changes a professional’s role with their client and fundamentally requires a different skillset to that of a personal trainer. However, working alongside the all-important role of trainer: Personal Coaching + Personal Training = Personal Transformation. When we train people well AND coach people well we can truly stand out as the most sought-after fitness and nutrition professional in our niche.
> What does it take to coach well?
A coach is truly a client-centred professional. They build trust and rapport with their clients to get to the deep issues that otherwise hold them back from achieving what they want.
An effective coach coaches the person making changes to their lifestyle not the behaviours themselves. The approach is collaborative and one where both parties bring expertise to the table. The trainer brings their knowledge of fitness and nutrition and the client their expertise about themselves and their own life. And the coaching process brings these two areas together.
When we focus on the behaviours required to get fit, lose weight and be healthy we are coming from the position of trainer.
When we focus our attention on the person trying to change and not the actual behaviours themselves, we help them get clearer about not only what they want but why they want what they want, why they struggle and what personal resolve they can find to change. When we become more detective-like and seek to help our client figure things out for themselves and use our expertise in fitness and nutrition as a resource, we are adopting the role of coach. Sure, we can offer great insight into macronutrients and training protocols to raise metabolic rate, realign key fat loss hormones and workout optimally. But when we also facilitate the process of how clients will apply what we can offer, overcome what otherwise holds them back and develop new habits that will serve them, we become the most powerful professional on the planet.
A coach must understand the psychology of change, appreciative enquiry, motivational interviewing and the science of habit change. A coach is a facilitator of change; an agent of change who makes the difference when clients otherwise feel lost, stuck and unable to find the personal resolve they need to turn their health and fitness and, indeed, lives around.
> How coaching can transform your growing fitness business
There are two essential components that will help you stand out in an industry where otherwise everyone looks the same. At a time where everyone sells the results clients want, you will stand out by:
[1] Showing how you get to the root cause of your clients’ problems whereas everybody else merely treats the symptoms.
[2] That you have a step-by-step proven model they can follow with your help to ensure a personalised journey to address what most matters to get from where they currently find themselves to where they most want to be and so finally enjoy the results they most desire on their own terms.
And coaching is your ticket to do this well!
> What is Coaching with Darren Tebbenham?
Coaching with me is about you deciding you want more; that enough is enough of going slow. It is your chance to acknowledge you are not where you want to be or could be if you really fulfilled your full potential. We work together to dig deep and discover your true genius i.e. what you really would love to create. We build it together and make your dreams a reality. My job is to be your coach. That's it. And here's the thing. I have employed coaches. Of course, I have. I believe in the power of coaching. If you buy into your powerful role as a coach for your clients, you must believe in coaching too. And does mean investing in a coach. Not a blueprint, a coach!
Question 1: If I am new to coaching, is this for me? Absolutely, it will help you start with your best foot forward and create a strong foundation for your entire career.
Question 2: If I already coach, will this help me? Of course, my many years of experience as a business owner, as a personal trainer and as a coach will enable you to push through the limitations you likely place upon yourself. We will go way beyond making things a bit better. We will take things to a whole new level!
Darren T
PS Coaching well can indeed transform your coaching business
PPS Coaching will transform your clients' lives in turn