Deepening Communication for Exercise Adherence

As a personal trainer fortunately, fairly simple motivational interviewing communication strategies can be effective in helping client’s feel supported, understood, and comfortable in forming a new relationship with you. These same simple communication strategies also minimize disagreements. By maximizing support and minimizing disagreements, we will help get people connected and that connection is what leads to adherence to an exercise program.

Last week

I talked about open ended questions and reflections. This week I am going to talk about the extended version of motivational interviewing: using affirmations, asking permission to talk about a subject (particularly when it’s a sensitive subject) and having the ability to offer options to your clients.

Using affirmations

Affirmations show appreciation for your client and their strengths. For example, client continuation: I did put a workout in my schedule yesterday. Personal trainer: I know it’s been challenging for you to schedule your workouts. It’s great that you were able to do that yesterday. As a personal trainer you must listen carefully to know what to affirm. If you were going to affirm your client, it is important to genuinely affirm something the client personally values. For example, affirming your client’s workout clothes, sneakers, or heart rate monitor might seem appropriate but generally, people will feel more validated by positive comments about their thoughts, plans or skills.

How are affirmations different than complements? Compliments typically have an evaluative judgment implicit within them. Complements usually begin with’ I’ statements. Changing ‘I’ statements to ‘you’ statements relocates the affirmation from an external advantage point to an internal client attribute. An affirmation communicates an appreciation of clients for who they are.

Asking permission

As personal trainers you have the knowledge and the understanding of what information is important and helpful for a client. It is important to recognize that you do have information to share and that your client is paying you to share that information. However, before sharing information with your client is important to ask permission to share that information. For example, personal trainer: I have some thoughts about what might help you get a workout in regardless of work, family obligations and exhaustion. Would it be ok for me to share these thoughts with you? Asking permission to give advice softens your role as an authority figure, and supports a partnership in the decision-making process.

Offering options

Rather than provide your client with one option or idea they can do, give them a list. One idea is not an option. There is nothing for your client to choose from. Two ideas are still not an option. Your client can choose from one or the other. Three or more ideas are options. Your client now has a choice from several things and will be able to choose what might be the most appropriate. For example, personal trainer: here are several options of ways you might be able to balance everything you have going on and still workout: we could set goals for your workouts, we could set up a workout plan for your week, or we could come up with alternatives for dealing with barriers that in the way of your workouts. Do any of these seem like they might be helpful? You should let your client know that if nothing on your list seems like an appropriate option you can discuss alterative options.

Once your client has chosen an option it’s important to continue exploring that option. You want to have a conversation with your client about why they chose that option and work with your client to come up with a strategy on how that option will work for them and what they need to do to move forward.

Positive connections with your clients give you the opportunity to be supportive of their pursuit of exercise. Lifestyle change seldom occurs all at once and without struggle. That gradual lifestyle change is often accompanied by a pattern of backsliding, stopping, and starting over. However our collaborative relationships with our clients can and will provide the means to be supportive throughout the process. Motivational interviewing is the basis for that relationship.

Questions? Email me: drmichelle@drmichellecleere.com

Dr. Michelle

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