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The Most Important Personality Types and Traits for Personal Trainers

myers briggs personality type for personal trainers

How Do I Find a Career According to My Personality?

There are various personality assessment tools that can be used to determine your personality types, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) the Big Five Personality Traits, and the Holland codes.

The MBTI assesses personality according to four dichotomies: extraversion vs. introversion, sensing vs. intuition, thinking vs. feeling, and judging vs. perceiving. These dichotomies combine to form 16 different personality types.

The Big Five Personality Traits, on the other hand, assess personality based on five dimensions: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Holland codes are a way of classifying people according to their interests so that they can be matched with appropriate careers. The system was developed by Dr. John L. Holland, an academic psychologist.

Regardless of the specific assessment tool used, your personality type can indeed influence the type of job or career you would find success in. For example, if you are an introvert who enjoys spending time alone, you may be better suited for a career that involves more independent work, such as writing or programming. On the other hand, if you are an extrovert who thrives on social interaction, you may feel better suited for a career that requires you to interact with a variety of people often.

Similarly, if you score high on the conscientiousness dimension of the Big Five, you may be well-suited for a career that requires attention to detail and adherence to rules. If you score high on the openness to experience dimension, you may be better suited for a career that involves creativity and innovation.

Personality Traits of Successful Personal Trainers

According to Career Explorer, using the Big Five traits, personal trainers score highly on extraversion, meaning that they rely on external stimuli to be happy, such as people or exciting surroundings. They also tend to be high on the measure of social responsibility, indicating that they desire fair outcomes and have a general concern for others.

Working within the confines of Holland codes, personal trainers tend to be predominantly investigative individuals, which means that they are quite inquisitive and curious people that often like to spend time alone with their thoughts. They also tend to be artistic, meaning that they are creative and original and work well in a setting that allows for self-expression.

To be a good personal trainer, several personality traits can be very beneficial. A personal trainer is not only responsible for designing workout programs and demonstrating exercises to clients but also for motivating them to reach their fitness goals. Therefore, a good personal trainer should possess a combination of technical skills and soft skills. Here are some of the essential personality traits that create a successful personal trainer:

  • Passionate: A good personal trainer should have a passion for fitness and a healthy lifestyle. They should be enthusiastic and inspire their clients to adopt the same approach to achieve their fitness goals.
  • Empathetic: Personal trainers should be empathetic and have the ability to understand the challenges that their clients may face. They should be able to adapt their approach based on their client’s needs and limitations, such as physical disabilities or injuries.
  • Patient: Successful trainers should be patient and have the ability to work with clients who may have a range of fitness levels. They should be able to encourage and motivate their clients without overwhelming or intimidating them.
  • Goal-oriented: A good personal trainer should be goal-oriented and have the ability to set realistic and achievable fitness goals for their clients. They should be able to monitor their clients’ progress and modify their workout programs to keep them on track.
  • Communicative: Successful trainers should have excellent communication skills. They should be able to explain complex exercise movements in a clear and concise manner and provide feedback to their clients on their form and technique.
  • Adaptable: A good personal trainer is adaptable and able to adjust their approach to accommodate changes in their clients’ schedules, preferences, and fitness goals.
  • Professional: If you want to be a successful personal trainer you should be professional and maintain a positive and encouraging demeanor. You should be punctual, organized, and attentive to your client’s needs.

Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that personality is just one factor that can influence career success. Other factors such as education, training, and experience are also important. A good personal trainer should have a combination of technical skills and soft skills that allow them to create effective workout programs, motivate and support their clients, and help them achieve their fitness goals.

These personality traits can help create a positive and successful experience for both the personal trainer and their clients. By taking your personality type into account when choosing a career path, you may be able to find a job that is a better fit for your natural strengths and preferences.

Be on the lookout for future articles. You will also want to search through the archives of our blog because there are many other articles that go into great depth about a variety of topics. Here are two for you to check out now!

There is always something exciting about earning a new training or coaching certification and applying that new knowledge of how you train your clients. This also helps you hit the reset button.

There are numerous career opportunities available to personal trainers who work at gyms, fitness centers or health clubs. Earning your NCCA-Accredited NESTA Personal Fitness Trainer Certification can help you stand out in the field and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

NESTA and Spencer Institute has been helping people like you since 1992. To date, over 65,000 people from around the world have benefited from our various certifications, programs, continuing education courses and business development systems. We are here for you now and in the future. Feel confident in your decision to work with us as you advance your knowledge and career. We are here for you each step of the way.

Click this link to see our complete list of programs (all of which qualify for CEUs for our programs and others).

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