Confidence and why it’s necessary for PTs.
Many know confidence as a feeling or emotion that passes by people through different strokes in their lives. One may be confident in how they dress one day and the next they’re harsh on themselves for not wearing a more colorful set of trousers. Or for a Personal Trainer, one day you’re full of energy and really hype up your clients but the next day you’ve started doubting yourself and whether or not you’ve actually impacted them.
This is the idea of confidence that many have and it is an idea that many also need to re-think.
Confidence is the ability to rely on and trust yourself because you know that what you are doing is right and that it is the right way to achieve your goals. That allows people to excel in their specific fields, it’s what makes people great!
But how does it relate to being a Personal Trainer? Well, as a Personal Trainer your clients will be looking to you for inspiration and guidance throughout their fitness journey. If you give them something along the lines of “Maybe doing this will change your life…” or “I’m not sure but I think this is best for you….” then you may as well have been scaring them off.
You must believe in yourself and your abilities so much that you can say with certainty that you’re going to help someone reach their fitness goals. This is where confidence comes into play. You must believe that you can do it and that you can make a difference in someone’s life. And if you don’t believe that, then you won’t. So let me ask you this… Do you believe that you can help others get fit? Can you see yourself helping other people become healthier and happier?
If you’re unsure of it and you want to build your confidence then make sure to keep reading because, in this article, we have words from Olympic athlete Amy Williams MBE on how she views confidence and how she used it to win a Gold Medal!
Adopting a Growth Mindset
When building confidence, the first thing you need to start with is your mindset. The idea of a growth mindset came from the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Dr. Carol Dweck. According to Dr. Dweck, having a growth mindset means that you believe in personal development and the natural progression of things. When you have this mindset, you are always pushing to learn new things, as opposed to the fixed mindset from the same book, where people think that talent or intelligence is inherited. Constantly learning and advancing your knowledge is integral for a personal trainer which is why having a growth mindset is a must. You can learn more about it from Dr. Dweck herself by following the link here: https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means
So how does this apply to being a Personal Trainer? Well, it helps us understand our own potential and the potential of those around us. When we look at ourselves, we realize that we can always improve and grow. And by imparting that mindset to your clients, you will be able to give them the confidence to keep progressing to reach their fitness goals.
Elite athletes like Amy have adopted a growth mindset which allowed them to grow. In her recent interview on the upcoming Hapori podcast, she states “It was more of an internal thing of just wanting to push myself to my limits.” Confidence starts from within, by changing your mindset and then having the belief that you will become better by pushing yourself more you are already on your way to becoming successful in everything that you do!
Be Kind to Yourself
Confidence building isn’t just about pushing yourself tirelessly every single day. It’s also about taking care of yourself. Again, as a personal trainer, your clients will be looking to you for that push or motivation, but if you can’t even push yourself then how will that look to them?
Taking breaks is normal for everybody, and by knowing one’s limits, you are able to confidently say when you can keep moving forward and when you need to rest. You can do something as simple as taking a walk outside or stretching out your legs. But remember, there is no such thing as too many walks! Take time to unwind and relax after a long day of training. Your body needs it and your mind will thank you for it!
And don’t just take our word for it, according to this article from Michigan State University, taking breaks while working can lead to better productivity, improvement of mental health, increased job satisfaction, and can restore focus and attention for long-term goals.
And with a healthier mental state comes a clearer idea of one’s strengths and capability, which will then increase your confidence!
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
It’s easy to compare yourself to others, especially if they’re doing something better than you. But comparing yourself to others will only hold you back from achieving your goals. Instead, focus on what you want to achieve and set realistic goals.
As a personal trainer, your focus should be on what you can provide to your clients, what you can do for them and how you can make your service better and make their experience with you even greater. In the Hapori Podcast, Amy says “You know what? I kind of like, ruined everyone’s thought process there. When I was growing up, my parents were asked, was Amy a competitive child? And they would say no, but I would always want to do the very best. So, if I had a little task or a little job, I wanted to do the very best.” And her just being focused on doing her very best in every task that she had and every training session she went through led her to win gold for her and her country.
Comparing yourself to other people will only diminish your own confidence. As the saying goes “Comparison is the root of all unhappiness” a statement better discussed in the article “4 Reasons Why You Feel Insecure About Yourself”
In this modern age where social media is the norm and everyone is on their phones, people are quick to feel like they’re not doing enough because they saw another person from across the world already achieving their goals.
Focusing on your own work will allow you to stay in your lane, win your own battles, and eventually build your confidence as a personal trainer.
Appreciate What You Have Achieved
If you are a personal trainer or fitness instructor, then you know how hard it can be to get clients. It takes time, effort, and persistence to build a client base. But if you want to be successful with this business, you must appreciate what you have already achieved.
Pat yourself on the back for creating a new training program for your clients, or setting your own training style that anyone can follow. The key to building one’s confidence is to really dig deep within and see that you’ve come a long way.
Take Amy Williams’ word on it when she says “For me to become a more confident athlete, I had to have that tic box every day. I’ve done this, done that and that, and because I know that I’ve done that therefore that’s going to give me the confidence to go out and slide well and be the best athlete.”
Remember all the hard work you’ve put in, the sacrifices you’ve made, and the small victories you’ve achieved, and you’ll start seeing yourself in a different light than ever before!
Becoming a successful personal trainer takes time, dedication, and lots of hard work. But it’s important to remember that you can always grow and improve—you don’t need to have all the answers from the get-go. By adopting a growth mindset, treating yourself from time to time, avoiding comparisons with other people, and appreciating what you have already achieved so far, you can build your confidence and reach your goals.
For more advice on establishing the best mindset for success, be sure to check out the book Talent to Triumph by Amy Williams MBE. She also features in the upcoming Hapori Podcast hosted by Rob Solly who delves into the mindset of the real achievers in the sports and fitness industry. From elite athletes, and trainers, to high performers with inspiring stories. Coming June 2022!
