THE PARETO PRINCIPLE

What does this mean exactly? Well, have you ever observed high level coaches, CEOs or even business managers who have been successful at training and leading teams? 

They certainly pay attention to detail - but to clarify, there is a big difference between micro-management and being detail-focused. 

When it comes to coaching or personal training, there is a principle called the Pareto principle. This was originally developed by an Italian economist as a business concept, however many coaches in different sports now incorporate this into their training. 

The Pareto principle originates from the idea that “80% of the sales come from 20% of the clients”.

So how do we apply this to the fitness or personal training industry? We translate this into the concept that 80% of the results come from 20% of the exercises - so there shouldn’t be too much focus on changing exercises frequently. 

In the gym this can be seen as 20% of the work coming from main compound exercises, and 80% of the work coming from accessory exercises. This highlights the importance of efficiency, and the fact that 80% of the impact comes from 20% of the efforts. 

This also highlights the importance of attention to detail, and working on the little things to produce the biggest impact or results. Going back to the gym example, choosing the most effective exercises for your goals and performing them with intent and correct technique can go a long way in improving your athletic performance. Once your goal is evident, you can start constructing a programme that will yield results, without having to be in the gym for hours on end.

So what does this mean for how you train your potential clients? Make sure that you pay attention to the details of how they’re performing exercises, and see if they’re following the instructions when they’re not with you. 

Even the smallest details, like rest periods, are often overlooked - and could be something that ends up hindering your progress. Are you taking too much rest? Are you not taking enough? Take a closer look - the devil is in the detail!