Coaches Need Coaches, Too
Consider using downtime for professional development.
Fitness professionals focus primarily on client needs and results. During stressful times like the pandemic, it’s important to make time not only for personal self-care but also for professional development, as your business’s future needs may not resemble those of the past. Pamela Dukes, MA, OLY, Olympic and Hall of Fame athlete and certified professional coach in Dallas, offers the following tips:
- Develop your knowledge base around COVID-19. Understand what effects someone may have, even after recovering from the disease.
- Consider learning more about mental health issues. Since some people are experiencing sadness or possibly depression from the pandemic, learn more about these conditions and how you can help (within scope of practice). Some clients may have lost someone close to them or experienced a personal health crisis. Coursera (coursera.org) offers inexpensive and free classes.
- Try a side hustle. Evaluate your skills and interest, and add a new service. For example, you may want to get the education you need to offer nutrition advice.
- Work with a professional coach in areas you’d like to strengthen, such as building your business or improving goal acquisition.
To learn more about Pam Dukes, go to pamdukes.com/.
See also: Career Questions? Enter the Mentor
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
