This article will provide some conditions and standards with specific tools personal trainers may consider using in their initial interview with potential clients.

Research on the benefits of using goals to increase athletic performance has shown that performance generally increases for athletes that use goals consistently. Learn how to move beyond generalities and see how a systematic goal setting approach can be paired with training athletes.

The purposes of assessment are to gather baseline data and to provide a basis for developing goals and effective exercise programs. Gathering and evaluating the various pieces of information give the personal trainer a broader perspective of the client. The process and the data collected assist the trainer in identifying potential areas of injury and reasonable starting points for recommended intensities and volumes of exercise based on the goals and fitness outcomes.

During the initial interview, the personal trainer and client assess compatibility, develop goals, and establish a client-trainer agreement.

In this 2018 NSCA Personal Training Conference video, Mike Israetel describes how to create and develop motivation in your clients, and how to understand the process of motivation in people.

Andy Gillham goes over how to develop and prioritize goal setting for both athletes and coaches, in this session from the NSCA 2018 Coaches Conference. Creating systematic goal setting can help achieve team, performance, and personal goals.

From the 2020 NSCA Coaches Conference, Jim Davis, Founder of the Good Athlete Project, presents his mission for maximizing the potential of athletics as education and the many components that create the framework of a high order performance goal.

This article discusses career development and progression for women in the field of strength and conditioning. Coach Andrea Hudy provides her personal insight as she touches on goal setting, core values, and professionalism.

This article discusses using the principle of specificity as an important component in tactical training programs to enhance performance, decrease injuries, and improve functional longevity of a tactical athlete.

Developing a truly successful program involves several layers that the personal trainer must address with time, competence, and critical thinking. A thorough and complete initial consultation can ensure that the personal trainer has all the data that they need to design a program that is time-efficient and successful.