Right before our eyes we are seeing a metamorphosis of personal trainers. For all the trainers who have a marketing message that they can program to help clients lose 5kg, run a marathon or even just touch their toes you will be out of business in less than a year!
If you are a PT that just shows yourself scantily clad on the beach proclaiming you have the world’s best online program to get results for clients, fill in your unemployment forms now! Your clients can get the program you write in seconds and for free from ChatGPT.
For those with bricks and mortar studios or contractors inside clubs, if your value proposition is periodised programs you write, well the death knell is ringing for you too.
Clients know the results they want. They know their commitment to time in the gym – length and how often they can attend. And of course they know the ‘when’ they want results. That’s all they need to ask ChatGPT to write them a question.
So why does anyone need a personal trainer anymore?
What ChatGPT cannot do:
- Correct technique
- Support through human to human connection
- Hold clients accountable
- Help build habits with positive reinforcement
- Celebrate success
These are the soft skills of personal training. They are the communication and emotional intelligence pieces of the puzzle.
We’ve always known they are all critical to a successful PT and their business but now it is never more relevant.
What should 2023 look like then for personal trainers and PT Departments:
- Personal trainers must work on their soft communication skills.
- Department Managers and business owners your team development training needs to focus on strengthening the soft communication skills.
It is no longer how good you can bench press (or any other exercise) it is how you can motivate me to bench press, ensure my bench press is performed correctly, get me to bench press with you again next week, and high five me when I do a personal best!
Personal training is changing before our eyes!
And according to ChatGPT . . .
Soft communication skills are essential personal attributes and abilities that help you communicate, collaborate, and connect with others in a meaningful way.
In a world where relationships matter more than ever, these skills are vital for building positive and productive interactions with people around you.
Here are some examples of soft communication skills that you can develop to improve your interactions with others:
- Active listening: Paying attention to others and showing that you care about what they have to say.
- Empathy: Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and understanding their perspective.
- Verbal and nonverbal communication: Using words, tone, and body language to express yourself clearly and effectively.
- Conflict resolution: Finding solutions to disagreements and problems that are fair and respectful to all parties involved.
- Collaboration: Working together with others to achieve common goals and make a positive impact.
- Emotional intelligence: Being aware of and managing your own emotions, as well as recognizing and responding to the emotions of others.
- Adaptability: Being flexible and open to change and new situations.
- Positive attitude: Maintaining an optimistic outlook and being supportive of others, even in challenging situations.
By developing these soft communication skills, you can build stronger relationships with those around you and create a more fulfilling and successful life.
At REX Roundtables we discuss AI and how it impacts our current future businesses. Additionally, we share resources and best practices to help in team development. If you would like to find out more about REX, then let’s chat – click here
