The Art of Client Communication: A Personal Trainer’s Perspective
In my role as a personal trainer, communication isn’t just a tool it’s the foundation of success. My job is to bridge the gap between my knowledge of movement and a clients ability to perform exercises safely and effectively. The ultimate goal is for each client to develop a stronger mind-body connection, enabling them to sense when something feels off and confidently apply the necessary corrections.
But here’s the key: everyone learns differently.
Some clients thrive on detailed, step-by-step instructions. Others respond best to visual demonstrations or physical cues. Some need metaphors or analogies that help them feel the movement in their bodies, while others benefit from understanding the science behind what they’re doing. There’s no one-size-fits-all communication style in personal training, and part of my job is figuring out what works best for each individual.
When It’s Not Clicking, It’s On Me
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that when a client isn’t performing an exercise correctly, it’s not their fault it’s mine. It’s up to me to adapt my approach until I find a way to get through to them. That might mean explaining the movement in a new way, offering a different visual demonstration, or using a tactile cue to help them understand what their body should feel like.
For example, if a client struggles with hinging at the hips during a deadlift, simply repeating the same verbal cues won’t magically fix the problem. Instead, I might guide them through the movement with a dowel on their back to reinforce alignment or compare the hip hinge to closing a car door with their glutes. The responsibility is mine to keep troubleshooting until the light bulb goes off for them.
Building Awareness and Confidence
Effective communication goes beyond the session itself. My ultimate goal is to help clients become their own best coaches. By fostering their awareness of how their body moves, they can start to identify imbalances, tightness, or compensations on their own. When they can sense these subtle shifts and know how to correct them, they’re empowered to move better not just in the gym but in daily life.
That process starts with small wins. When a client experiences a “click moment” when they suddenly feel their glutes firing during a squat or their lats engaging in a pull-up it’s a game changer. Those moments build confidence and reinforce the connection between understanding and application.
The Takeaway
Client communication is as much an art as it is a science. It requires patience, creativity, and a deep commitment to meeting people where they are. If an exercise isn’t clicking, the solution isn’t to push harder or assume the client just doesn’t get it. But instead, it’s about taking a step back, reevaluating, and finding another way to bridge the gap.
Because at the end of the day, my success isn’t measured by how much I know or how well I can explain something it’s measured by how well my clients move, feel, and grow. And that starts with meeting them on their level and communicating in a way that resonates with them.
