Have you ever fired a client, and why?
I understand some of the comments about using the word “fire” (I guess it’s a bit harsh) but I don’t have a particular problem with the word. In my opinion, no matter what you call it, the end result is that you terminated the relationship. “Yes,” I have had to “terminate my relationship” with a client before. I believe that the client-trainer relationship is a partnership. A partnership of trust, communication and mutual respect. I got into this profession because I love helping people help themselves. I love to coach, train, educate and communicate. When the relationship begins to breakdown, it’s important to try to fix it, or when it cannot be fixed (for whatever reason), in my opinion, it’s time to part the ways.
I consider most of my clients to also be friends. Over time, you can’t relate to someone in such a personal way as we do as trainers, and not establish a friendship with them. I entertain my clients with monthly “client dinners,” attend my young clients’ sporting events, am invited by my clients to their important events, and include some of them as subjects or models in some of my articles. But, there have been times over my 17-year training career, when, for whatever reason, a client and I are not on the same page and the relationship has to be terminated (“you’re fired!”).
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
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