Client Meltdown!
I had an interesting experience recently, this has happened in the past but very infrequent and not to this extent. Please share your experience if this has occured with you, thanks.
This past Sunday a client of mine came in for training but after a quick warm up burst into tears. Every thing in her life was crashing in around her and there was a tremendous sense of worthlessness, unfulfillment and lack of accomplishment in her life. Training immediately took a back seat and I had to be a reassured presence in her life at that moment.
Hi Kurt,
Yes, this has happened to me as well. This will happen to you more than once over the years, so it’s better to be prepared when you meet with your clients, because life can be very unpredictable.
It’s part of the trade and you will never know what kind of day your clients have had when they meet with you. Part of being a good trainer is to be a great listener and a good friend, and to feel compassion for those whom you are trying to help. Sometimes you may feel like a psychologist. The other part of being a good trainer is knowing you are the professional in this situation. Your clients are allowed to fall apart, but you’re not, so remain professional and help as best you can. When clients change their lifestyles and transform their habits, it’s often either because of other turmoil in their lives, or the transformation itself may be causing turmoil. It’s not uncommon for clients to gain clarity and confidence as part of a transition to a healthy lifestyle, and it can be a powerful experience for them, which is why they may look to you for guidance. Many times, your clients consider you to be someone they can talk to because you are outside their circle of family and friends and you are a great source of inspiration and support for them.
Best,
Harris