The Questions You Are Not Asking Your Members Before Class!
This question will determine the success of your clients tomorrow, today and in the future. Which in turn will determine the type of coach you are and will be.
When I first started coaching CrossFit in my garage, the first thing I ask the people who come to my Free Intro is, “How did you hear about us?”. I like this question because it tells me how they found me, especially when my house is the last of a dead end road, in a gated complex. It allows me to thank the person who referred them and it tells me how I can get more people into class.
After they finish with their Free Intro, I will then ask them, “Did you have a good time?”. In general, I really want to know how I did in class and if it made their day. But This question will also setup the tone for post class so that they realize for themselves how much hard work they have done and how great it feels to sweat out your problems and feel like you have made a difference in your health and fitness.
Before they leave my gym, I would say good bye and then ask them, “When will I see you next?”. I say this because I authentically want to know when I can workout with them again. But I also ask it because I want to remind them that their goals cannot be achieved just with one class. They need to continue to come in, embrace the sweat, meet their gym partners, see the gym to get used to working out.
The path to real answers is to ask the right questions.
My late partner in the #kemangtribe, Ashraf Sinclair told me that every time I don’t have an answer for anything, I need to formulate a question starting with “What does it take to …”. For example, when we wanted to hit 100 members, we asked each other “What would it take for Equator to have 100 members? Then the ideas would just start pouring in. There are no right or wrong answers, but the ideas themselves will create a path towards the goal that we want to reach.
What is the ONE question that you should be asking your members before class?
Ask yourself what are the goals of your members / clients? If you coach class, or have personal clients and you do not know or have the goals of your members in mind or written somewhere, I want you to add it to your To-Do list, … now. Make it priority to find out before your next session with them. Goals are the main reason why your clients are hiring you. They want to become better. They want to become happier. They want to find themselves. And they need your help to get there.
So ask that question …
What would it take for <your client’s name>” to be <insert your client’s goals here>?
Then list out everything that you believe in your heart that he / she can do better to reach that goal. Be authentic and compassionate as you are putting this plan together. Make it personal as you are the one holding their hand through this journey.
Here’s an example.
When I was a Coach at Equator and a Personal Trainer at Bootcamp Fitness, 90% of my clients just wanted to be healthy. They wanted to see a transformation in their life.
Question: What would it take for my members and clients to be healthy?
My members and clients would need to:
- Have a good night sleep
- Eat well (no skipped meals, preferably wholesome)
- Breathe deep
- Move their body
I don’t mean to simplify. But it is simple isn’t it?
Healthy people sleep through the night, eats fruits and vegetables, takes some time for themselves and they move their body (from taking a walk, to exercise or lifting weights). If you have a different picture for your own clients, then create that picture and make sure you are in-sync with your members’s goals.
So now, let me ask you, are you asking these questions to your members before class? And if you are working out on your own, are YOU asking yourself these three questions before you start your workout?
- How was your sleep?
- Have you had lunch?
- How was your day?
