Sometimes we can be our biggest obstacle for growth. This is something that is seen in all areas of life and not just the health and fitness field. While some situations can feel very comforting, we can adapt to that environment and become complacent. When an opportunity arises That invloves change, more or different responsibilities, or something that makes us become more aware of how unknown our future is we often resist. We all do this. I know for sure I’ve done it. The trick is to not create an obstacle for your path, when the road has a few unknown turns. Those turns themselves are obstacles, you certainly don’t need more along your way. I relate this to the fitness industry because this is one profession where we (those involved in it) go through this phase of having the biggest ego and are never humble enough to ask for help or give it when needed. On a side note, here is a great info-graphic from Precision Nutrition on what I mean:
Here's the link if you'd like to read more about this in their amazing article: https://www.precisionnutrition.com/how-to-use-evidence-in-fitness-coaching
Anyway,
We’re in the field that solely relies on helping others get better but, we open our arms far less often than we should to a trainer/coach who is in need of structure, advice, second opinion, or someone to talk to.
I've met and worked with coaches and having to practice leadership and team work skills throughout my life, as a boyscout and as a colleague to others I've found, there are two key things you can do to improve both yourself & your colleagues.
1. Ask for an opinion on something you’re doing. Weather you’re a master trainer or someone who just earned credentials, get another point of view on your current task. It may bring up a point you haven’t yet come across. The ultimate way to really use this method is to genuinely care about what they have to say.
2. Give credit where credit is due. This is what I see being the biggest issue for coaches & trainers. We are in a world where there are astounding innovators and people they pass their knowledge down to. Then, people who take their ideas and get creative with it. And then, there are some who take an idea or similar and make it as their own. Kind of like a copy & paste and take credit for it. Taking & manipulating some of the greater minds ideas can allow you to expand your experience plus, possibly find a new way to apply the principles, etc. Again, you should give credit to where it stemmed from. How would you feel if you came up with an amazing idea or something & someone copy and pasted it as their own? By doing that, you support your brother or sister in the field by saying "this is the person that opened my eyes to this method or idea and I'm rolling with it like this now" and allow people to see your customization, creativity, & results.
Point two is what I think makes coaches & trainers cut off so many other professionals. Being afraid that someone will take your idea, your programming style, your nutrition plan, etc., and make it their own --and some how get insanely rich off it or something like that. Yet realistically, there are probably hundreds of others using it already. We can only come up with so many ways to apply something (I'm not saying more is better but to try new things may benefit you). In a sense, we become these greedy idea hoarders. We want all the success, nothing for anyone else. I think it's like this because this is such a competitive field. I mean, someone could just click with another coaches client and bam, they now have their client and their business if they're not totally sold on their coach.
This is an extreme "Murphys Law"(1) way to think. Most of us were taught similar things and offer very alike services, as well. Aside from the results we can bring, people pick us for us! They see themselves as apart of your community of clients not just, "I guess I'll train with that trainer". That's something we often overlook when we on board someone. Those of us who are getting clients by application know exactly what I'm talking about. You set what type of client you work with, they apply, you choose wether it's a fit or not and that's that.
Think of this particular situation of idea hoarding anywhere else in life. In a more serious example...
A doctor doesn't want to share his step by step procedure on how to operate on a patient for a certain complication. This doctor has successfully overcome this obstacle multiple times and because of it he has seen a life of wealth, success, praise, and fame. But, he's afraid he will be "de-throned" and won't be the only specialist any more. He's afraid someone will take the wealth, success, praise, and fame they've earned away. There are no other doctors who are specialized in this part of the field and the patient suffers from other complications because other doctors had to learn around this issue.
In this extreme example the doctor was too greedy to share his procedure and this caused a patient to suffer and almost die.
All the doctor had to do was say "Hey, team. I want to show you how I deal with this situation incase any of you come across it. Let me know if this makes your experience better and touch base with me for discussion or if you have questions". He built up his team, established a role as a leading authoritative figure and helped his industry. You see professionals offer their own courses after multiple years in practice too, he could've went that route as well.
On a MUCH LIGHTER NOTE, things like this are happening in gyms all around. People don't open up because they're afraid they wont be given due credit or because they want all the success for themselves.
Aside from the the negative things in the industry to end on a good note I have to say if you end up at a gym or a facility with open minded people who are friendly (sometimes this comes after getting to know them of course) you can make amazing friends and have a "toolbox" of resources to interact with for the better.
To finish this post I'll leave you with this...
Be a people builder, an industry helper, a leader, and a friend. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when people aren’t busy (because you know, if you’re a trainer or a coach of some sort you’re probably in a routine or on top of your time management to some extent, or just really productive trying to make a living). This is what makes others better, what makes you better, your clients, and what definitely makes the industry better. Ask your colleagues a question, curate a new or improve an old method of application and get everyone to grow.
Send this to someone who needs to read it!
#TMPT7 #leader #trainersteam #weareforthesamecause #buildothersup #dontbreakthemdown #wegrow #cpt #nutritioncoach #team #teamwork #gym #fitness #nutrition #health #lifestyle
1. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law
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