3 Ways to Maximize Movement Motivation

As group fitness instructors, we have certain responsibilities that accompany being genuine leaders. It’s up to us to retain people who come to our QiDANCE, QiFORZE, and other group exercise classes. To do that effectively, we need to better understand both what motivates people to exercise and what they fear.

3 Ways to Maximize Movement Motivation

1) Understand the Fear Factor

People avoid situations where they think they may fail. This is especially true in performance or socially evaluative situations, in which people are socially judged or assessed by others in a public or semi-public forum. Let’s face it: Group fitness classes, more than other gym or club activities, lend themselves to performance or social evaluation.

Fear of failure can take several forms. The most significant is the fear of shame or embarrassment. Instructors who comment on mistakes in a group setting confirm a participant’s worst fears. As instructors, we know to avoid obvious humiliation, such as laughing at a participant’s misstep or chastising someone over the microphone. But some kinds of embarrassment are subtle.

Count the number of negative comments you make in a single class. Consider the impact of cues such as, “Don’t lock your joints,” “If you can’t do this version, do the easier one” or “I’m not feeling any energy from you all!” Such comments not only deprive people of rewards but also emphasize punishment. Exercisers who already have a heightened fear of failure will only become more anxious hearing such cues.

2) Emphasize Process Over Outcome

Fortunately, the remedy is easy. Emphasize the positive over the negative. Cue participants to “Do X” instead of stressing, “Don’t do Y.” As long as we prioritize outcome or results—be it positive or negative—we will perpetuate participants’ fears of failing to achieve that outcome. So they leave, never to come back. Instead, let’s emphasize the exercise process.

Having fun is one of the most powerful “process motivators” fitness professionals can employ to help retain clients.

And verbal praise is the most common reward exercisers can get from instructors. Researchers have found that exercisers report an increased interest in and persistence at an activity when they are praised for it (Deci, Koestner & Ryan 1999). Positive comments are consistently associated with enhanced intrinsic motivation. The motivational value of appropriate verbal praise from fitness instructors is clear and strong.

Combining fun with positive praise is a double espresso shot of motivation!

3) Up the Fun Factor

Why do children choose certain activities. Simple - they want to have fun. And the reason they reject an activity is that it stops being fun. Guess what? Adults are no different. Like kids, they stay active and interested when four factors are present:

1. The activity is fun.
2. It allows an opportunity for mastery.
3. It reinforces a person’s sense of competency.
4. It provides a chance to be with friends.

The Take-Home Message

So, motivating group exercisers is not so abstract after all. We need to look for opportunities to comment positively, offering praise and positive reinforcement. We need to give participants every opportunity to succeed, not fail. And we need to keep our classes fun! If we do these things, we’ll enjoy classes full of happy, motivated, fearless people. I’ll bet none of us would mind being known for Turning It On with great motivation!

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