What is a coach? Why the heck do you need one?
No one's a full expert on anything: everyone needs a mentor in their lives. Bill Gates had Warren Buffet, Michael Jordan & Phil Jackson, Tiger Woods & Hank Haney. This goes back even thousands of years - the Ancient Greek Prodicus mentored Socrates, who in turn taught Plato. Coaching and mentorship is an integral part of nearly any endeavor of the human experience and goes as far back as history allows.
Getting sweaty is easy. Only your coach knows why you're there to sweat in the first place.
Coaching is the foundational component of what we do here at GLCF, because after all, take that away and it's just a building with barbells and a rig. You don't need to pay someone to walk around and cheer you through a workout or to babysit you.
A coach isn't just a cheerleader, if it were that easy than any caring friend could be your coach. They're not someone that tells you the workout then checks the gram while you work through it. A coach is someone that learns and cares about their clients. Not just how it relates to their health, but who you really are, even at an emotional level. What drove you to make the change? What are your goals? And, most importantly, how can I help you?
What drove you to make the change? What are your goals? And, most importantly, how can I help you?
The coach sees the big picture. They guide you toward achieving your goals, even as those goals inevitably evolve. Getting sweaty is easy. Only your coach knows why you're there to sweat in the first place.
While looking for a coach, here are some good qualities to look for:
Caring: A coach cares deeply about their clients. Not just how they move, but what's going on in their lives. They understand your whole picture; if work's going to be stressful, when you're going on vacation, a new baby's on the way. They not only help to come up with a plan to keep you moving forward but are excited, sad, or nervous alongside you during those life events.
Knowledgeable: A coach knows their stuff inside out. They should be extremely well versed in everything that can help you in your fitness - nutrition, exercise prescription, movement assessment, and motivation. They should be able to eloquently answer all your questions in a way that you can understand, and if they don't know the answer - they will improve themselves by learning about the topic to answer it.
Mission: A coach aims to create an environment where training is fun and approachable. Their goal is to educate their clients on the "why" behind what we're doing. They want to create real change for their tribe and focus on improving their fitness so they can live life to the fullest.
Individual Attention: Coaches keep a constant eye on your movement. You should get feedback every single workout and be given cues, encouragement, and adjustments along the way. If you have any limitations, they should have that in mind as soon as they see that you'll be doing that wokrout.
Environment: They create a space that you want to go to. They help you get away from the daily grind and enjoy yourself. It should be an hour that you look forward to not just because you're going to feel better, but because it's fun.
Remember: anyone can make you sweat. Understanding why is what really matters... and if you have a good coach, they will too. If you have any questions or want to come talk to a coach, book your free intro here.
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