What strategies do you use to help your clients/students feel welcome and engaged?

Greeting everyone personally with a smile and being genuine. Clients know when you are there for them and not on an ego trip for you.

Telling a story to let them know about a struggle and how you overcame it helps tremendously. It makes you seem more approachable.

Always relate to your clients in some way and be genuine.

Remember their birthdays, anniversaries of deaths of loved ones or pets, names of kids or grandkids, introduce them to others in class if it's their first class, highlight some things in common they may have with someone in class, encourage them with friendly eye contact such as a wink during the challenging times in class or in a session, and really listen to what they say and most importantly HOW they say it (that will give you very good clues about them and their needs).

Not having a canned introduction, learning their names, seeing them out when the class is over.

Address them by name. At the end of my classes I ALWAYS thank everyone for coming. If there are new people in the class I will also announce that I will be available for a few minutes if anyone has any questions. I strive to give a challenging and quality class but most importantly make everyone feel that they were at least somewhat successful.

I think basic human kindness, respect, and courtesy apply here. For starters, people love the sound of their own name, right?! That is probably the most important; with clients that's easy since we see them more often. In a class setting it can be more of a challenge, but one to definitely master. Also, a warm, genuine verbal greeting and smile goes a long way:)

Treat everybody with respect. Don't assume you know better. We really don't know who we are working with until some time has passed. Again, PT clients will quickly become more familiar, but even they may not offer full disclosure regarding certain issues for some time (if ever). With class participants, I think you just have to keep chatting with them, pay attention, and do your best to earn their respect and trust.

PT clients deserve our full attention during every session (and before and after in terms of preparing for and making notes/reminders). I think more trainers would benefit by adopting a similar mindset as other service providers; think travel, tourism, hospitality, etc...what experiences do they create (or don't) that linger in our minds?

Finally, with our PT clients, it's important to consistently offer comments on their progress (whether strictly factual or unabashed praise). Most of us connect with our clients on so many different levels that it can be downright tricky to keep the balance that is required for professionalism and personal attention to co-exist (and let's face it: there are many times when the scales will be tilted more one way than the other. That's life. As long as the big picture is attended to, everyone will benefit).

Ultimately if you relate to someone honestly, with good energy and intentions, they will sense it and respond in kind.

Games! No matter what their age, my clients all enjoy challenging fitness games. It definitely grabs their attention, gets them immediately engaged, and quickly lose any inhibitions or hesitancy they may initially feel.

LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com

Kindness, genuine concern, knowing their names. I have many clients in nursing homes and many don't receive visitors. Tell them thank you at the end of the class.