Self-Confidence: Training for Success

Self-confidence is a very important mental quality to have if you want to be successful at any endeavour. It doesn't matter if you are starting a new business, asking someone on a date or trying to get in top physical condition.

When I train clients, whether athletes or not, I always keep their psychological and emotional state in mind. I want to help them achieve their goals. I want to help them surpass their goals and conquer their self-limiting beliefs. One theory that has had a great impact on the way I do things is Bandura’s theory on “self-efficacy”. It is behind my rational for progressing my clients the way I do. I believe it has helped me train my clients for success.

Self-Efficacy Theory (A. Bandura)

Self-efficacy refers to perceived self-confidence. It is when an individual feels a decreased sense of doubt in his/her own ability, increased feelings of control and a resulting improvement in performance.

It is difficult for an individual with no experience in a weight room to have strong self- efficacy feelings in this area. There are ways, however, to increase self-efficacy.

By providing the client with small attainable goals we can create an atmosphere of success. This allows the client to build on previous successes, thereby learning from positive past experiences. The client is more apt to expect future success if he/she has already experienced past success. This allows one to store positive experiences in the long- term memory.

Imagine a woman who was always overweight as a child, never very athletic and always felt self-conscious about her physical abilities-what type of change could you affect by showing her success where she never had before? Personal fitness professionals have an opportunity to bring about immensely powerful changes in their clients simply by understanding and applying this theory to their training.

Start slowly and help the client realize how far he/she has come since starting to train regularly. Positive reinforcement and praise is more powerful than negative reinforcement and scolding. While sometimes it is necessary to tell someone what they did wrong make sure that the majority of comments focus on what they have done right. Clients who lack self-confidence or self-esteem may benefit greatly from this type of approach.

I tell people that it does not matter where they start, it only matters where they wind up. A client that has been overweight, "unanthletic", unsure or intimidated can start with a light weight or an easy movement. Before to long, with proper training and encouragement, the weights get heavier and the movements more complex and "athletic".

This client needs to know that despite the struggle and the possible embarrassment, that it was worth the hard work. The feeling of personal power and the increase in self-confidence, self-efficacy and self-esteem will be incredible. If this is, or was, you then you know what I am talking about.

When dealing with an athlete this theory may be helpful when beginning to teach a difficult lift that the athlete is unsure of. First build the strength base, break the movement down to its parts and then, before you know it, the athlete will perform the lift with confidence.

For the experienced athlete that occasionally experiences some doubt, maybe before a big competition, this approach can be equally beneficial. I have worked with athletes that had doubts about their abilities, for various reasons. When they were directed to look at all their accomplishments, all the hard work that got them to where they are, the fact that they deserved to be were they are, and encouraged to believe in their abilities, much of the anxiety often disappeared and the feelings of self-confidence returned.

If this is not the way you do things and you have been successful then keep doing what you are doing. If you feel that this approach can help you then it was worth the ten minutes it took to read this article.

Try to apply this theory when you train a client that is overly cautious, timid, fearful or otherwise “hard to reach”. See if it helps you help them more effectively. Enhancing a client's self-confidence can have a ripple effect on every aspect of their life. You are in a position to make profound changes in people’s lives. Please take position that seriously.

I now have the self-confidence to leave this page