{"id":15870,"date":"2026-05-29T23:10:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T16:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=15870"},"modified":"2026-05-29T23:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T16:10:12","slug":"5-traits-of-a-successful-coach-tony-gentilcore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=15870","title":{"rendered":"5 Traits of a Successful Coach \u2013 Tony Gentilcore"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Ask ten different people their opinion on what traits or characteristics make for a great or \u201csuccessful\u201d coach \u2013 in this case strength coach, personal trainer \u2013 and you\u2019re bound to get ten different answers and iterations.<\/p>\n<h3>5 Traits of a \u201cSuccessful\u201d Coach<\/h3>\n<p>Some people will use adjectives like <em>strong, looks the part, experienced, knowledgable, professional, motivating, or \u201cdestroy the back of my pants scary<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Others will use less germane markers such as <em>bald, has an epic beard,<\/em><em>\u00a0or sleeps with a copy of SuperTraining underneath his or her\u2019s pillow at night<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>All are important (some more so than others) and all can be used to describe many strength coaches \u2013 or <strong><em>any<\/em><\/strong> kind of coach for that matter.<\/p>\n<p>It should go without saying, but this is not an exhaustive list.<\/p>\n<p>Today, though, I\u2019d like to cover some less obvious characteristics I feel constitutes a great strength coach and\/or personal trainer. Some are based off of my own personal experiences, while others fall into the camp of \u201cit\u2019s true because it\u2019s my blog, and because I said so.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>1. Coaches Coach<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7433\/12039717254_cd409f2b03.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"566\" height=\"213\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Seems like an obvious point to start with, right? But it amazes me how many \u201ccoaches\u201d out there don\u2019t train anybody.<\/p>\n<p>Like, ever.<\/p>\n<p>Such is the paradox of this technological age we live in. The internet has made everyone into an expert or authority all because 1) they say so and\/or 2) because # of followers = the pantheon of expertise.<\/p>\n<p>Listen, having thousands of followers on Twitter or Instagram is impressive. Anytime you have that many people interested in what you have to say, you\u2019re obviously doing <strong><em>something<\/em><\/strong> right.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>But don\u2019t call yourself a coach or \u201cexpert\u201d if you\u2019re not actually coaching people.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And this is where things get little murky and where the weeds get a little higher.<\/p>\n<p>This isn\u2019t to disrespect or devalue those who make a living online. I get it.\u00a0 We live in the 21st century and if nothing else, the pandemic taught us that we should be ready, willing, and able to pivot to the online space when needed.<\/p>\n<p>I have many friends and colleagues who do really well for themselves coaching people in a distance based fashion:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>They\u2019re able to help more people this way.<\/li>\n<li>They get people results.<\/li>\n<li>I can\u2019t bemoan that.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I do it too.<\/p>\n<p>However, I also still spend 15-20 hours per week in my studio coaching athletes and clients in person. That\u2019s still very important to me. It keeps me fresh and in touch with my coaching skills. And I can guarantee many coaches online who are crushing it were FIRST doing so with in-person coaching. If you can\u2019t coach a deadlift in person, the likelihood you\u2019ll be able to do so over a WiFI connection with someone hundreds of miles away is pretty slim.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, if I\u2019m going to sit here and write blog posts and articles about how to train people, I better be practicing what I preach.<\/p>\n<p>But that\u2019s just me, I can\u2019t speak for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a degree of integrity I am not willing to give up.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Embrace Your Coaching Style<\/h3>\n<p>I always gain of sense of entertainment when other coaches come to observe me coaching. I think many are surprised to recognize that I\u2019m fairly tame in my approach.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, I\u2019ll get animated, crank up the music, and pump people up when it\u2019s needed and warranted. But for the most part I\u2019m about as laid back as it gets. What can I say\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2026it\u2019s my <a href=\"https:\/\/tonygentilcore.com\/2022\/01\/confessions-of-an-introverted-strength-coach-revisted\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>inner-introvert<\/strong><\/span><\/a> living it\u2019s best life.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To be clear:<\/strong> No one \u2013 coaches, pirates, airplane pilots, Orcs \u2013 is 100% introverted or extroverted. We\u2019re all a mix-n-match of the two. What I find unfortunate is that it\u2019s the more introverted side of the spectrum that tends to get society\u2019s consternation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/1esS7rID0eqdX9kYwW\" width=\"480\" height=\"228\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/gifs\/reaction-mood-1esS7rID0eqdX9kYwW\">via GIPHY<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Introversion<\/strong> is often seen as aloofness or worse, a weakness. When all it really means is that some people are mentally drained in more social environments and need a little more <del>kitty cuddles<\/del> \u201cme time\u201d to re-charge.<\/p>\n<p>As such, those who are more introverted are often forced to be something they\u2019re not\u2026much to the detriment of their comfort level, happiness, and ability to <em>not<\/em> toss their face into a brick wall.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Extroversion<\/strong> \u2013 while having its own set of advantages and disadvantages \u2013 is seen as a strength and preferred trait in our society.<\/p>\n<p>We introverts have a ton to offer as coaches \u2013 we tend to be better listeners and are more patient as an example. I\u2019d encourage anyone who falls into this camp to embrace their introversion, understand that compromises are going to have to be made of course (read my article linked above), and that preferring to hang out with a book on a Friday night is total boss status.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Pull Coaching vs. Push Coaching<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s been pointed on many occasions in recent years \u2013 especially by the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelanguageofcoaching.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Nick Winkelman<\/strong><\/span><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/brettbartholomew.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Brett Bartholomew<\/strong><\/span><\/a> \u2013 the power of using EXTERNAL (as opposed to using internal) cues when coaching \u2013 particularly when working with beginner or intermediate level lifters.<\/p>\n<h4>To Summarize:<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Internal Cues<\/strong> = Specific bodily actions or what it\u2019s doing in space.<\/p>\n<p><strong>External Cues<\/strong> = Intent, distance, or an action.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Exercise<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <strong>Internal Cue<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <strong>External Cue<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">1. Deadlift\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cChest up.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cShow me the logo on your shirt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">2. Squat\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cKnees out.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cSpread the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">3. Bench Press\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cArch your back.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cMeet the bar halfway.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Sprinting\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cExtend your hip.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cPush the ground away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>External cuing tends to have more \u201csticking\u201d power and resonates more with most lifters. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nick_tumminello\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Nick Tumminello<\/strong><\/span><\/a> has a nice way of putting it:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cSpeak client, not trainer\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Taking things a step further, I really love the idea of \u201cPull\u201d coaching vs. \u201cPush\u201d coaching \u2013 a concept I stole from my good friend and colleague <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tonybonvechio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Tony Bonvechio<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pull Coaching<\/strong> = Helping someone solve their own problems\u2026listening to understand, asking questions, paraphrasing, suggesting options.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Push Coaching<\/strong> = Solving someone\u2019s problems for them\u2026telling, instructing, giving advice.<\/p>\n<p>Both scenarios have efficacy and have their time and place. However, I\u2019d argue we need more of the former compared to the latter. As a coach I want to EDUCATE my athletes and clients to be their own best asset; to figure shit out if I am not there. I don\u2019t want them to have to rely on me for <em>everything<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When to add weight to any given exercise.<\/li>\n<li>When to temper their workouts and when to push themselves further.<\/li>\n<li>How to make simple exercise substitutions if equipment availability is an issue.<\/li>\n<li>To understand why burpees (and kipping pull-ups) are straight up dumb.<\/li>\n<li>And, do I really need to remind you to g0 <em>Widow\u2019s Bay<\/em> on Apple TV? FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You know, the important stuff.<\/p>\n<p>I think far too many coaches and personal trainers push at the expense of pull. Strive to empower your clients by making them more competent and encourage more autonomy (making their own choices).<\/p>\n<h3>4. Insatiable Desire to Get Better<\/h3>\n<p>Dan John sits in the front row whenever he attends a workshop or seminar. Mike Boyle still attends numerous events every year and is never afraid to backtrack or admit when he\u2019s wrong. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thealigilbert\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Ali Gilbert<\/strong><\/span><\/a> is the same. Mark Fisher routinely reads over 100 bools every\u2026single\u2026.year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Jerk.<\/p>\n<p>All of them have decades of coaching experience, and all are <strong><em>still<\/em><\/strong> striving to get better.<\/p>\n<p>Who in the holy f**k are you?<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve got it all figured out huh? No need to continue to learn from others, right? It\u2019s YOUR way or the highway? Everyone else is a moron?\u00a0 Got it.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Lets Stop With the \u201cGrinding\u201d and \u201cHustling\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>While it\u2019s a bit more toned down now, I\u2019m so sick of seeing stuff like this.<\/p>\n<p>We see them on social media all the time.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cGrinders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The ones who are soooooo busy and soooooo swamped and have sooooooo much more of a work ethic than everyone else.<\/p>\n<p>Listen, I can appreciate people with work ethic. And I\u2019ll be the first one to champion hard work and the notion that nothing happens without some degree of sacrifice, uncomfortableness, and inconvenience. And yes, long-ass hours.<\/p>\n<p>But please, spare us the inspirational quotes and grandstanding because you happened to get up before 5 AM two days in a row or, I don\u2019t know, haven\u2019t eaten a carb since March.<\/p>\n<p>Grinding is four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Grinding is raising a child as a single parent. Grinding is going through intensive chemotherapy and <strong><em>still<\/em><\/strong> putting a smile on your face. Grinding is listening to your co-worker brag about their CrossFit workouts and attempting to keep your eyes from rolling out of their sockets every time (s)he waxes poetic about how you\u2019re going to die tomorrow for drinking a Diet Coke.<\/p>\n<p>It has <strong><em>nothing<\/em><\/strong> to do with how superior you are because you avoid seed oils or because you train eight clients per day, six days per week.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Speaking of which:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To the \u201crise and grinders\u201d\u2026I love the work ethic, but there\u2019s only a finite # of hours per week you\u2019re an affective coach.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re not the same coach at the end of the day as you are at the start. You\u2019re not the same coach at the start of a week as you are at the end. Touting the early wake-up times and hustle mentality isn\u2019t the long-term flex you think it is.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not a coincidence most trainers\/coaches putter out after two years. They inevitably hate life.<\/p>\n<p>I understand bills need to be paid, and I want to reiterate that I also understand there will be a window of time where long hours are going to happen. But be cognizant that there are only a finite number of hours where you\u2019re an affective coach and where you\u2019ll inevitably burn out.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s is a healthy balance and I hope you can find it.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/tonygentilcore.com\/2026\/05\/5-traits-of-a-successful-coach\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ask ten different people their opinion on what traits or characteristics make for a great or \u201csuccessful\u201d coach \u2013 in this case strength coach, personal trainer \u2013 and you\u2019re bound to get ten different answers and iterations. 5 Traits of a \u201cSuccessful\u201d Coach Some people will use adjectives like strong, looks the part, experienced, knowledgable, &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fitness"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15870\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}