First Impressions: Speed Dating Tips for the CPT During an Assessment

The assessment is the most important step in the certified personal trainers (CPT) new client-recruiting checklist as it provides an opportunity for the two parties involved to establish common ground. Finding this common ground is much like speed dating. The CPT has a limited amount of time to make a connection with the potential client and the client must believe that the CPT is the right fit for them. This can be challenging in such a limited time however, the key to a successful speed dating session (assessment) is establish one key component with the potential client.

The key to meeting a new potential client for the first time is getting them to be comfortable enough with you to share some fairly personal information, all in about 15 minutes. This can be a challenging at times however; there are a few techniques that you can use to assist you in doing so. In this blog I’m going to provide you a few tips that will guide you in making a great first impression during your initial interview and assessment and allow you to leave your speed dating session with some digits!

Tip #1: Know your demographic

• In many cases the potential client will be new to the world of personal training and, for that matter, the fitness industry all together. The majority of folks seeking CPTs these days are between the ages of 40 and 65 and have never worked with a trainer before. Because they are new to exercise and have not worked with a fitness professional before you need to focus on getting their guard down.

Tip #2: Putting the client at ease

• A great way of getting your potential client to let their guard down is by asking them how often they currently exercise. Any answer they give will allow you to provide the proper response and immediately gives them something to talk about. The awkward silence in the beginning of a sit down session can be devastating during a speed dating session (assessment) as you only have so much time. This time is vital as you do not want to waste any of it by putting a potential client in an uncomfortable position. The primary thing to remember during the assessment that the time spent with the potential client needs to be totally focused on them. A quality assessment is like writing an article. You create the title (questions) and allow them to fill in the content (answers). Remember, it’s all about them. Let them talk and allow yourself to listen.

My Question:           “So Michelle, how often do you currently exercise?”

 Tip #3: Be the “Solution” to their “Problem”

• Any potential client that has asked to meet with you has some sort of “problem.” Typical problems include: fat loss (most common), feeling better (second most common), looking better (third most common) and performing better (fourth most common). What ever their problem might be, you need to be the answer and you need to prove to our potential client that you know exactly how to fix their problem, all in about 15 minutes. This is where a personal story or experience with another client can be helpful.

Tell them about the experience you had fixing your lower back pain or how you trained to climb Mt. Whitney. Share the story of how you trained a client to run a half marathon or that you got a client, in less then six months, off their depression medication. Personal stories and successful experiences are a fantastic way to say to your potential client, “See, it works! And I can help you do it too!”

The first impression is extremely important and is the kick start to a successful relationship between a CPT and their “lifer” (long term) potential client. Much like speed-dating, you only have a short time to show that you are the solution, that you can be trusted and that you are extremely valuable and vital to their success. 

ROBERT LINKUL MS CSCS *D NSCA-CPT *
NSCA 2012 Personal Trainer of the Year 
NSCA South-West Regional Coordinator (California, Hawaii and Nevada) 
robertlinkul.blogspot.com

Robert Linkul is the National Strength & Conditioning Associations 2012 Personal Trainer of the Year and is the NSCA’s Southwest Regional Coordinator. Robert has his master's degree in personal training and is an NSCA-CPT and CSCS with distinction. Linkul is the “Career Development” instructor for the National Personal Training Institute (Sacramento) assisting students in creating their professional blueprint in which they will implement once they have officially become certified personal trainers.

Robert leads more than 125 personal training sessions per week and is dedicates over 100 hours per year to developing his team of CPTs. Linkul writes for a number of fitness publications including PFP Magazine, Healthy Living Magazine, On Fitness Magazine and the NSCA Performance Journal. Linkul is a nationally accredited presenter for the NSCA and for Cybex, having presented at the NSCA’s Personal Trainer and National Conferences in 2012 and 2013.