Reframing the Role of the Personal Trainer.

If after putting in all this effort, what if the work we had done was thrown away in front of our eyes? Dan Ariely “Predictably Irrational-basic human motivations” presents a human truth about value and meaning when we put in a lot of effort. If after all the effort put into exercising and there is no tangible result, how will we feel afterwards? Is it likely that we will continue? Is it likely that we will come back for more?

Dan Ariely in his presentation, talks about work, specifically when one is asked to work hard on a presentation, moving the Company forward, only for the Boss to through it all away. In other words, to de-value all the hard work you have put into it. If this happens often enough, you will begin to feel crushed, and unmotivated to carry on. Coming to work everyday with this feeling is daunting!

Rather than “throwing all our work away”, we need to see positive results for our efforts. Most importantly, we need to see and feel positive acknowledgment for the work, whether that be a public recognition, and we need to instil this feeling within ourselves, the results of our hard work, for a job well done. “I am making progress”.

If a PT/Coach is designing a session or program, these insights need to be incorporated in, for short term and long term value and meaning for the client/player.