Communication Articles

Have you ever taken a step back, stumped at someone else’s success in the shadow of your failure, and wondered, “What does she have that I don’t?” Many fitness professionals have thought about the best way to pack a room or retain a client, and everyone has a unique perspective. More often than not, the theories focus on our methods: exercises, equipment, music and cuing...

In 1964, as Winston Churchill’s health was rapidly declining, former President and World War II General Dwight D. Eisenhower went to visit his friend. Eisenhower sat by the former prime minister’s bed for a lengthy period of time. Neither man spoke. After a while, Churchill slowly raised his hand and painstakingly made the V for victory sign, which he was well known for, often...

If you are like a lot of program directors, you manage people you rarely see—or who rarely see you. This makes you a “ghost manager.” The biggest challenge in being a ghost manager lies in connecting with and motivating your staff. Ghost managers can be responsible for 30 or more instructors who work about 1–3 hours per week, and for 50-plus time slots on the schedule. Most instructors teach pa...

Remember your college days? You may have been blessed with a close group of buddies straight out of the TV series Friends. Do you look around now, however, and notice that you don’t have as many friends as you used to or as you’d like? The bad news is that friends may come and go throughout your life. The good news is that by making a focused effort, you can gain new fr...

It’s time to record a new voice mail greeting (you have, after all, had your current one for 3 years now). You dig out the instruction booklet and figure out which buttons to push on the answering machine. You’ve rehearsed what you’ll say several times. You take a deep breath, push the button, and . . . immediately trip over your tongue. Back to square one. Does ...

How do you tell children and teens that they are overweight or obese? This question is receiving new attention in light of the California Health Interview Survey’s recent results. The statewide review found that of 240 physicians, more than 90% admitted they needed to learn more about skills and strategies for communicating with kids and parents about ...

Mike Bee, fitness specialist at the Golden Door Spa in Escond...

Kathy Conant, MS, an IDEA Elite Personal Fitness Trainer in Brookfield, Connecticut, recalls this story from her first formal job out of graduate school. She was conduct...

Training for Growth By Sherri McMillan, MSc, and Alex McMillan Ready, Set, Present! To ensure success, follow these guidelines before each presentation. Become Familiar With the Environment Ask how the room will be set up. Will there be tables and chairs? Will the presentation be lecture style or "in the round"? Find out about any potential problems, such as distractions or poor acoustics, that ...

Training for Growth By Sherri McMillan, MSc, and Alex McMillan Become a Dynamite Presenter Develop your skills as an industry speaker and reap the benefits in new clients. One of the most effective ways to quickly gain exposure as a personal trainer is by presenting. Good speakers can expect to gain at least one to three new clients at every presentation they conduct. The problem is that for most...