CH 3 Effective Communication and Coaching Strategies

Check out our Audio Lectures, Practice Tests and Study Guide for the ACE CPT to see the specific topics that make it onto the ACE CPT Test from this chapter.

 

  1. Client – Trainer Relationships
    1. Rapport stage: mutual understanding and trust in a relationship both verbal and nonverbal
      1. Continues to build over time
      2. Positive first impressions
      3. Verbal and nonverbal
        1. Voice quality – inspire confidence, don’t sound weak or hesitant
        2. Eye contact – direct and friendly
        3. Facial expressions – try to convey genuine emotion
        4. Hand gestures – too much is distracting, keep hands quiet
        5. Body position – exhibit good posture
    2. Investigation stage: review clients’ health and fitness data, any available test results, medical clearance information, and clients’ goals and exercise history
      1. Trainer exhibits effective listening skills in this stage
        1. Encourage
        2. Paraphrase
        3. Ask open-ended questions
        4. Reflect
        5. Summarize
      2. Respond to difficult disclosures
    3. Planning stage: trainer designs exercise program with client. Client is now ready to begin working out
      1. Set goals (see tables 3-2 and 3-3 for SMART goal setting suggestions)
        1. SMART goals – specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound
        2. Process goals – something client does (complete 3 workouts this week)
        3. Product goals – something achieved like weight loss or personal best on a lift
      2. Form and discuss alternatives
      3. Form a plan
      4. Evaluate the exercise program
      5. Motivational interviewing
        1. Ask probing questions
        2. Listen effectively
        3. Provide educational information
        4. Keep the conversation friendly
        5. Build self-confidence
        6. Encourage
    4. Action stage: Client begins working out
      1. Trainer must have ability to effectively teach new motor skills at this point
      2. Set up self-monitoring systems
      3. Individualize teaching techniques
        1. Tell, show, do
        2. Remind beginners that it takes time to improve motor skills
        3. Introduce new skills slowly and clearly
        4. Allow clients the opportunity for focused practice
      4. Provide feedback
        1. Reinforce what was done well, correct errors, motivate clients to continue practicing and improving
      5. Using effective modeling
      6. Behavioral contracts
  2. Effective Communication
    1. Cultural competence – ability to communicate and work effectively with people from different cultures
    2. Enhancing adherence
      1. Show empathy and continue to build rapport
      2. Professional boundaries
  3. Learning Strategies
    1. Cognitive learning stage – use tell, show, do and provide opportunity for practice. Stage when clients are trying to understand a new skill.
    2. Associative stage of learning: clients are mastering the basics and ready for more specific feedback that will help them refine the motor skill.
      1. Trainer must balance giving appropriate feedback with proper amount of feedback
    3. Autonomous stage of learning – clients performing motor skills effectively and naturally
    4. Trainer doing less teaching and more monitoring

 

Check out our Audio Lectures, Practice Tests and Study Guide for the ACE CPT to see the specific topics that make it onto the ACE CPT Test from this chapter.