As a health and fitness coach, it is important to be able to identify the different personality types of your clients and members. This will help you better understand how they communicate, and how you can best coach them to success. There are four main personality types, which are based on the Platinum Rule. In this blog post, we will discuss each of these personality types and how you can best work with them.
Directors are driven by two governing needs: to control and achieve. Directors are goal-oriented go-getters who are most comfortable when they are in charge of people and situations. They want to accomplish many things now so they focus on no-nonsense approaches to bottom-line results. Directors seek expedience and are not afraid to bend the rules. They figure it is easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission. Directors accept challenges, take authority and plunge headfirst into solving problems. They are fast-paced, task-oriented, and work quickly and impressively by themselves — which means they become annoyed with delays. Directors are driven and dominating, which can make them stubborn, impatient, and insensitive to others. Directors are so focused that they forget to take the time to smell the roses.
How to coach this personality type:
The Socializer’s primary strengths are enthusiasm, charm, persuasiveness, and warmth. They are friendly and enthusiastic, and they like to be where the action is. They thrive on admiration, acknowledgment, and compliments. They are “idea people” who excel at getting others excited about their vision. They are eternal optimists with an abundance of charisma — qualities that help them influence people and build alliances to accomplish their goals. Socializers care less about winning or losing than how they look while playing the game. As wonderful as Socializers may sound, they do have their weaknesses: impatience, an aversion to being alone, and a short attention span — they become bored easily. Socializers are risk-takers who base many of their decisions on intuition, which is not inherently bad. When given only a little data, however, Socializers tend to make sweeping generalizations. Some of them are, therefore, exaggerators. Socializers are not inclined to do their homework or check out information. They are more likely to assume someone else will do it.
How to coach this personality type:
Thinkers are analytical, persistent, systematic people who enjoy problem-solving. Thinkers are detail-oriented, which makes them more concerned with content than style. Thinkers are task-oriented people who enjoy perfecting processes and working toward tangible results. They’re always in control of their emotions and may become uncomfortable around very outgoing people, e.g. Socializers. Thinkers have high expectations of themselves and others, which can make them overly critical. Their tendency toward perfectionism, when taken to an extreme, can cause “paralysis by over-analysis.” Thinkers are slow and deliberate decision-makers. They do research, make comparisons, determine risks, calculate margins of error and then take action. Thinkers become irritated by surprises and glitches, hence their cautious decision-making. Thinkers are also skeptical, so they like to see promises in writing.
How to coach this personality type:
Relaters are warm and nurturing individuals. They are the most people-oriented of the four styles. Relaters are excellent listeners, devoted friends, and loyal employees. Their relaxed disposition makes them approachable and warm. They develop strong networks of people who are willing to be mutually supportive and reliable. Relaters are excellent team players. Relaters are risk-averse. In fact, Relaters may tolerate unpleasant environments rather than risk change. They like the status quo and become distressed when disruptions are severe. When faced with change, they think it through, plan and accept it into their world. Relaters — more than the other types — strive to maintain personal composure, stability, and balance. In the office, Relaters are courteous, friendly, and willing to share responsibilities. They are good planners, persistent workers, and good at following through. Relaters go along with others, even when they do not agree because they do not want to rock the boat. Relaters are slow decision-makers for several reasons: their need for security, their need to avoid risk, and their desire to include others in the decision-making process.
How to coach this personality type:
It is important to understand your own personality type, as well as the personality types of those around you. This will help you in becoming a better coach for yourself and others. What are some other ways that you can think of to coach each personality type? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!