Fitness leaders must have extensive knowledge about program design, anatomy, exercise physiology and human movement, but they must also know how to inspire and motivate their clients. Their leadership style has a profound effect on their students' intentions to continue their exercise program, but this style must suit their client's personality.
Motivational Models
Fitness enthusiasts have an approach or an avoidance orientation to exercise, says Dr. David E. Conroy, University of Pennsylvania professor of kinesiology and human development. In an article on the IDEAFit.com website, Conroy explains that approach-oriented exercisers exercise for the reward, such as winning a prize, receiving praise or improving their level of fitness. Instructors using a transactional leadership style work best with this population. They offer constant praise and may even set up contests with small prizes. Avoidance-oriented exercisers work out to avoid embarrassment or criticism about their weight or fitness level. This type of motivation requires advanced leadership tactics, because the instructor must avoid setting his student up for failure. Avoid exercise routines with complex choreography or exercises that are too challenging for the student's fitness level. A transformational leadership style, which helps the student redefine and set realistic goals, helps this type of student maintain his intentions to exercise.
Autocratic Leaders
Leadership styles must suit the client and the type of exercise class. The autocratic, drill sergeant instructor works well in a boot-camp style class, because the name "boot-camp" invokes images of a military fitness experience. Typical boot-camp participants rarely take offense at a "get down and give me 30" approach to leadership, but a student anxious about his fitness level may be intimidated.
Democratic Leaders
Democratic leaders offer options for exercise modifications and may even ask the class to vote on session activities. On the day after Thanksgiving, for example, the group exercise instructor may ask members if they want to extend the aerobic segment. This leadership style works well with participants who are aware of their fitness level. A less fit, or avoidance-oriented student, may choose an advanced modification to avoid embarrassment in a group setting, but this approach may work in a personal training session as well.
Social Anxiety
A July 2006 study published in the "Journal of Applied Social Psychology" compared the effects of leadership styles on social anxiety during exercise class. The research team randomly assigned participants to two different groups. One group leader demonstrated an enriched leadership style. The instructor addressed participants by name, gave frequent praise and constructive feedback. The other group leader used an impersonal, disengaged and critical bland leadership. The enriched leadership style decreased social anxiety, making it more likely that the students would continue exercising.
Social Physique Anxiety Scale
The social physique anxiety scale measures the anxiety experienced having your physical appearance evaluated by other people. This anxiety plays a key role in the intention to join or continue an exercise program. While many fitness centers hire instructors for their appearance, instructors wearing form-fitting exercise clothes and emphasizing appearance-oriented comments may be unsuitable for students with appearance-anxiety, according to a study published in "Psychology of Sport and Exercise." The researchers recruited college-aged females with high social physique anxiety scores, and placed them in two types of classes. An appearance-oriented instructor taught one of the classes. She wore form-fitting workout clothes, and made comments about losing belly fat and burning calories. The other instructor wore gym shorts and a tee shirt, and made health-related comments, such as stand up straight for good posture. Students in the health-oriented class were 15 percent more likely to adhere to their future intentions to exercise.
References
- IDEA Fitness: Obstacles to Motivation: Addressing the Fear Factor
- ALA-APA.org: Leadership Style and Organizational Impact
- Wiley Online Library: Group and Leadership Effects on Social Anxiety Experienced During an Exercise Class
- Pub Med: The Social Physique Anxiety Scale
- Athlete's Arena: Social Environmental Factors And Psychological Responses To Acute Exercise For Socially Physique Anxious Females
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