By Shawn McQueen, Two Brain Group Coaching Mentor
If you missed Part 1, go back and read that one first.
Picking up with our list:
3. Frustration:
We know this as the feeling of prevention of progress, success or fulfillment. Feeling upset, annoyed or unable to do or change something. Where are the places this shows up in coaching group fitness classes?
a. A person who’s been coming for a few months or years and feels annoyed they still can’t do a strict Pull Up.
b. A person wanting/thinking they are going to do a workout in a certain time or get a score and that doesn’t happen that day.
c. Being unable to do what everyone else is doing in class, whether that’s skill, strength or a pain limitation.
What to understand:
They want to feel capable and that they are making progress.
What to acknowledge:
They’ve been triggered and maybe unhappy with themselves. What’s the best way I can show up for them? (ask more questions)
Their effort, intent and high standards. Possible improved strategy talk.
Learn what’s preventing them performing the way they want to and can you help solve that problem? Or improve language set forth within culture.
4. Disappointment:
We know this as the feeling of not fulfilling one’s hopes or expectations. Where are the places this shows up in coaching group fitness classes?
a. Not hitting a new PR on a heavy day or the weight you thought you would.
b. Not improving on a particular workout, if re-tested.
c. Having to adjust a movement or movement(s) because unable to either perform it or meet the intended stimulus.
What to understand:
They want to feel satisfied and live up to their own expectations. That they are moving forwards not backwards.
What to acknowledge:
What they did do? Reframe what success can mean (ie: close to old = consistent, the same = consistent means x, a new best means x)
Why they come – not to do what’s “RX” or even what’s on the board it’s for all the benefits that come from the stimulus.
Their standards may be impossible to reach.
5. Inadequacy:
We know this as the feelings of less than, unworthy, insufficient or not enough. Where are the places this shows up in coaching group fitness classes?
a. Others are better than me because they can do higher skill movements, heavier weights, are fitter etc.
b. Someone beat you or your score in a workout or weight in a lift.
c. Not being able to perform the workout as it’s prescribed.
What to understand:
They want to feel competent, confident and important/relevant.
What to acknowledge:
What they did do.
What truly matters.
What’s important to them and WHY. (& does that need to be upgraded)
6. Overload/Overwhelm:
We know this as the feeling of too great of a demand. Excessive information unable to process all of it. Feeling too much to handle, interpret and understand. Where are the places this shows up in coaching group fitness classes?
a. The coach not having a system at the whiteboard and bouncing all over the place with details, “scaling” options and other info, creating information overload.
b. The Coach breaks down a movement into too complex of form for members, speaking over the majority of their comprehension feeling like it’s too much to handle.
c. The coach communicating too fast, too long and providing too few or too many options, leading members to be confused, unsure and stressed on what to do.
BONUS: As well as not communicating to the 3 main archetypes and using easily digestible, universally understood language.
What to understand:
They want an ease of information, a communication style that is easy to follow, understand, relate to and given in chunks their brains can process.
What to acknowledge:
Having a system at the whiteboard will eliminate 80-90% of problems.
Keep it simple. Know it like a scientist but teach it to kindergartners.
Use the stop and go method, always.
7. Loneliness:
We know this as the feeling of lack of connection. Feeling misunderstood or without companionship. Feelings of unseen, uncared for and unloved. Where are the places this shows up in coaching group fitness classes?
a. A new member joins the class but either is not connecting with anyone, afraid to put themselves out there or no one comes up to them.
b. Not communicating beyond coaching cues to a member.
c. Avoiding certain members for any reason (they’re reactive, low energy, struggle to connect with them or they don’t listen to your coaching.)
What to understand:
They want a sense of belonging, togetherness and to feel like they matter to others. That they are seen, cared about and that they matter.
What to acknowledge:
How scary it can feel to be new and what can provide comfort.
Connect with everyone, beyond coaching. Make your care obvious.
Everyone is facing a challenge we know nothing about. Change your approach with difficult clients and ask better questions to get on same page.
8. Jealousy:
We know this as the feeling of resentment, envy and bitterness towards someone because they have something or have done something you have not or cannot do or they did better. Where are the places this shows up in coaching group fitness classes?
a. Someone does better in a workout or lift and they thought they should have beaten them and it makes them feel poorly about themselves and perhaps angry and bitter.
b. Someone makes a movement (ie: burpees) look really easy and they struggle with that movement. They can even develop a resentment or passive aggressive relationship toward this person.
c. Members feeling resentful towards someone making progress faster, better or at a rate they are not.
Ultimately, comparing themselves to others or the results of others versus their former self.
What to understand:
They want to feel progress, recognized and admired.
What to acknowledge:
Their worth is wrapped up in the wrong thing – challenge that way of thinking.
Honor each person – the one who makes it look effortless and the one who struggles with it. Highlight the fact that we all have certain things that are more in our wheelhouse and how we can appreciate and use it as a model versus hating on it.
Mindsets are underdeveloped and they need solid leadership.
Through consistent actions, communication, guidance you name it.
If you would like to learn how to be a more effective Group Coach, check out our course here: