Personal Trainer Skills List and Examples

Personal Trainer Skills List and Examples



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BY ALISON DOYLE

 

Updated June 21, 2018

Personal trainers are their own best advertisement for dedication, training, and results. Aside from their knowledge of fitness and nutrition, it's their ability to motivate and inspire their clients that makes them successful. Here are some essential skills you need to be a masterful personal trainer in a dynamic and exciting career field.

Essential Personal Trainer Skills

Passion 
Your passion for a healthy lifestyle, education, fitness, and proper nutrition, both for yourself and others, aids in teaching and guiding clients through a training plan and instills confidence and motivation in. Chris Powell from Extreme Weight Loss says that for him, success isn't about what he's accomplished, but rather what he can help others to achieve.

Industry Knowledge
High protein, low carb? Short bursts of high intensity training? Effective dietary supplements that help to burn fat and make the most of your clients’ workouts? Personal trainers have to be on the cutting edge of rising trends in fitness and nutrition. The industry is always changing and growing, and thus your education doesn't end when you get your certification. Personal trainers must keep abreast of the latest research and developments and constantly learn in order to best serve their clients with the latest nutritional and training advice.

Leadership
Sticking with a new eating and exercise plan can be a daunting task for people who are chronically obese and / or have always lived sedentary lifestyles. Venturing upon a rigorous and consistent exercise program will be filled with highs and lows for them – times (especially at the beginning) when they just want to throw in the towel, and glorious moments when a weight loss goal is achieved or a new athletic skill is mastered. Clients look to you to inspire them, show them the way, demand accountability on their part, and perhaps even change their life.

Personal trainers need to be able to motivatetheir clients with their instructions, advice, and personal example, get them back on track when they fall off the wagon, and empathetically deal with any emotional issues standing in their way.

If you are a personal trainer who also is willing to provide group instruction at a gym or training center (and most personal trainers do this), then you must also know how to manage group dynamics among class members who may or may not get along. It takes a special brand of leadership to be able to recognize and respond to the needs of individuals within a sometimes competitive group setting.

Energy and Commitment
No matter how many clients you see during the day, each one deserves your full physical energy and an unflagging positive outlook.

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Dealing with struggling clients also takes patience and perseverance. You have to stand ready to restructure a program if it isn't working, cheer on a client who doesn't believe in himself, and carefully calculate when to push for extra effort and when to pull back. You occasionally also have to know how to tactfully defuse and support a struggling client who decides to take his or her frustration out on you.

Personal Trainer Skills List
Here's a comprehensive list of personal trainer skills employers seek in the candidates they hire or that you'll need to run your own business. 

Personal Attributes

Dependable





Analytical





Determination





Dynamic Personality





Enthusiasm





Flexible





Following Up





Friendly





Helping





High Energy





Hold Others Accountable





Leadership





Listening





Motivational





Multi-Tasking





Nurturing





Independent Worker





Networking





Organization





Passion for Fitness





Patience





Personable





Persuasive





Planning





Observational





Ongoing Learning





Punctual





Positive Outlook





Problem Solving





Self-Motivated





Set High Expectations





Stamina





Tact





Teaching





Teamwork





Time Management



Interpersonal Skills

Speaking





Advising





Coaching





Communication





Counseling





Group Presentations





Customer Service





Effectiveness with Diverse Clientele





Results Oriented





Sales





Verbal Communication



Industry Knowledge

AED/CPR Certification





Assessment





Current Fitness Trends





Demonstrating Exercises





Designing Exercise Programs





Exercise Physiology





Facility with Personal Training Software





First Aid Trainer





Knowledge of Anatomy





Knowledge of Kinesiology and Biomechanics





Knowledge of Physiology





NASM or Other National Certification





Operating and Maintaining Exercise Equipment





Personal Training Techniques





Record Keeping





Role Model for Healthy Living





Safety Conscious





Safety Techniques





Understanding of Principles of Nutrition



 https://www.thebalancecareers.com/personal-trainer-skills-list-2062451