Effective is better than popular
By Julian Bertherat
I read an interesting article recently (which for once was not about the coronavirus). The article, published on the BBC website, concerned the (for some) controversial training of the French rugby squad by its head coach, Fabien Galthié (pictured). The article outlines the criticisms of Galthié by some players and the impact his training methods have had on the team and its performance.
According to some of his critics, Galthié is a skilled play tactician, if aggressive in his methods. I found the article interesting for a couple of reasons. The first is that it reminds me of my experiences playing the game (and some of the coaches I have been trained by over the years) and how I approach my own training of clients, both in and out of the gym.
To my mind personal training, like playing rugby, is as much about the mindset as it is about the methods that are used to reach optimal fitness. Galthié, for example, appears to want his players to think the same way as he does, to share a collective mindset that is focused on peak performance and success on the pitch. What I take from the article is that he believes the behaviour of his team members will effect the team as a whole, then the results of the team as a direct result of that behaviour. As a result, he presses down hard on the team, in a way that may appear harsh to some observers.
As in most things, context is everything.
Of course, the rugby training room and pitch are both specific places very different to the environments that most of us are familiar with. The principles at play for Galthié, however, are similar to those that affect the choices that a lot of us make which in turn affect our performance in and out of the workplace.
When you find yourself in the position of Galthié, what you discover very quickly is that you are the Commander in Chief and, because of that, you should not seek to, or need to be liked. What you need to be is effective in the role, an inspirational leader and a reliable resource for those you are responsible for. To achieve this, building a relationship with the team built on honesty is vital.
In the course of my coaching of clients I apply this principle whenever I can. To give an example, if a client is not giving focus or effort when exercising I tell them, clearly and without vagary to raise their awareness of how to improve and to get the results they need to see.
This oversight and detachment is crucial in encouraging better performance and change, even if such observations or criticisms can be stark. Many people when exercising or thinking about fitness can become over concerned with how they look (or think they should look) rather than how they feel or should feel. The latter is more important, of course, because training is about building strength and fitness, from which personal confidence will follow.
The responsibility of a competent and inspirational personal trainer is to build a positive attitude, focus and an understanding of technique to achieve these goals. It is not to pamper. Or indeed, to be popular for popularity’s sake, as perhaps Galthié has discovered.
Julian Bertherat - Personal Trainer - London
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