Be Coachable

I have mentioned this in previous articles and in conversations with clients, but Total Results exercise is a new concept for ninety percent of people who come through our doors for the first time. Our protocol flies in the face of conventional exercise orthodoxy, runs counter to what you see in fitness magazines, and is inherently an intellectual pursuit in addition to being the most comprehensive program you can undertake to stimulate physical improvements. No client gets it right the first time; mastery takes time, patience, effort, and a willingness to learn. I see myself as a teacher, just not in a traditional classroom setting. It is incumbent upon me to communicate clearly, concisely, and in language that is easily understood. Many points must be addressed repeatedly (such as proper breathing, head position, etc.) to ensure safety, but also to give the client their best chance to succeed. Instructors must hold themselves to the highest standard and be accountable for their performance. This is just one side of the coin, however. Exercise subjects must hold up their end of the teacher-student pact and do the things necessary to optimize performance. In short, it helps greatly to be coachable.

What does it mean to be coachable? This is a term that we often hear about in athletics, but I believe it can apply to any endeavor, whether it's playing a sport, learning a language, mastering a musical instrument, or becoming a method actor. There are certain things you can do to maximize your chance for a positive outcome, and none of them have anything to do with genetics, innate intelligence, or natural talent. It all starts with attitude. There are many things in life that are outside of your control, but the one thing you have complete control over is your attitude. No matter how external factors may affect you, how you see the world is entirely up to you. If you choose to be an optimist, maintain a positive mindset, and keep an open mind while you are being instructed during exercise, you will absorb information more effectively. This will enable you to process and implement the instructions your instructor gives you, thus making your workout safer and more efficient.

This leads us to the next part of being coachable: be an active listener. We often think of listening as being a passive endeavor, just making eye contact with whomever is talking and hearing what they have to say. There is a distinct difference between hearing and listening. Hearing generally means that what was said goes in one ear and out the other, while listening involves really absorbing and clarifying what is being communicated. You can't be a good listener if you are thinking about meeting a deadline at the office or fretting over your son's missing school assignment. Tune out all other distractions and focus on giving your full attention to your instructor for twenty minutes once or twice per week; anyone can do that. Repeat your instructor's cues internally to yourself; that will help you soak up the information you are given and will enable you to tap into the mind/muscle connection. We will break down our teaching points into easily digestible chunks for better retention.

Part of being coachable means having a sincere desire to do well at the exercise regimen you have undertaken. If you frequently arrive late, cancel sessions at the last minute, and do not focus on the task at hand you will make it harder to achieve success. This is something that needs to be important to you, and just showing up is not enough. You need to put your all into it, and while there are many variables in life that may impact how stressed or well-rested you are, it is important to give your best effort every time. Does that mean that each workout will be a record-setting performance? No, but you should strive to get just a little bit better each time. Another important quality to have is to be receptive to constructive criticism. The instructor's job is to advise but also to correct mistakes. We learn by making mistakes, and nobody is perfect. Correcting mistakes is part of the teaching process, and it not only helps you to maximize skill but also ensures your safety. Don't take corrections personally, but rather learn from them so that you can improve on the next exercise or in the next workout. We are not trying to put you down, we're trying to help you get better. It's also important to praise just as often, if not more, than we criticize. Positive reinforcement and criticism go hand in hand.

Finally, it's important to stay humble. Don't get overconfident when you achieve some success. No matter how far you have come, there is always more work to do. Over the years many clients have achieved some initial physical improvements but have not been able to sustain that level of achievement because they stray from the habits that they developed to get them there. Those that experience long-term success stick with practices that are repeatable day after day, month after month, and year after year. They don't take their eyes off the prize and set new goals going forward. At the same time, don't get down on yourself if you should happen to fall off track. Try to maintain an even keel, and never get too high or too low. Life has peaks and valleys, but if you stay humble and grateful for what you have you can navigate this crazy world pretty smoothly.

If you adopt the mindset of a perpetual student, always seek to learn and always look to challenge yourself, you will succeed as a Total Results client. Instructor and client work together to achieve great things, and we want to give you the information and the tools to help you get on and stay on the right path. Humility, a positive attitude, and a desire to perform at a high level, combined with being a good listener and responding positively to constructive criticism are the qualities that will help you to maximize your potential as an exercise trainee.