Raise the bar: Challenging certification mediocrity
Notes
I think everyone at some point has come up against something in their life that they wish would be better. Maybe it was an institution you had to deal with ( like the bmv ) maybe you were really looking forward to something that didn’t live up to expectations like a restaurant or a movie or maybe it’s your job or personal relationship. I think we can all relate to frustration with the level of mediocrity across the board in society these days.
In the fitness industry there’s often a lot of dissatisfaction and complaints about everything from the pay or lack of pay, to employers understanding and support all the way up the chain to our lauded certifying agencies. We all wish all of these things could be better. We want to be treated and paid like professionals yet we push back against the idea of state licensure or the cost of certification and ongoing registration in organizations that seem to just grow themselves without providing real support for their membership and do very little to uphold ethical or moral standards. (So I hear)
In my experience there isn’t much certification or continuing education providers can do to guarantee any level of or standard of quality in their fitness professionals. Let’s face it, if you know how to take a test or can spend a weekend at a conference you can get certified in pretty much anything. The fitness industry doesn’t provide any professional oversight. It’s up to the individual fitness professional to raise the bar and perhaps for our students and clients to raise their expectations.
So the next few podcast episodes we’re going to focus on that idea. How to Raise the bar as a fit pro in any format, one on one and group setting, for yourself personally, your professional credibility and your clients. Today we’re starting at the top by challenging
certification mediocrity. So let's get started on today's Work IN.
What do your certification letters mean to you?
What does being certified or registered mean? Who do you trust? Who assumes the responsibility for quality control? Industry standards?
Being certified says to most people that you know something. But what? The Tao te ching says that people who know don’t talk and people who talk don’t know. (56)
Certifications can be a source of pride and validation.
I’m certified in TRE - one of the simplest processes to do that I’ve ever encountered. Anyone can simply go buy the book and do it. And there’s nothing that stops anyone from buying the book and teaching it. Why wouldn’t people do that? Why shouldn’t they? What happens when they do and something goes wrong?
My NSCA story…looking for accreditation. What I was really looking for was validation.
Licensure in the fitness industry
Difference between certification and registration
Who cares if you have all the letters and the numbers if you phoned it in, or haven’t embodied the training, or if you simply don’t know how to communicate and teach? I think we all know really smart people, brilliant in what they do, but couldn’t teach it if their life depended on it.
Challenge yourself to get out from behind your letters - those letters are simply a starting point. Explore training and education that can make you better at being who you are. Lean in to those areas where you feel the most resistance. That might be things outside of your career and job but that will support you indefinitely. That might be business or marketing or maybe it’s self care or relationships, parenting or therapy.
Expand your professional credibility by walking the walk and integrating your whole life experience into what you do. Begin to curate those certifications.
Lean into your “thing” (find your thing)
Don’t water it down to try to serve everyone
Beware the jack of all trades master of none
Raise the Bar for yourself. It’s not about checking the boxes for credits. It’s about crafting a purposeful and intentional career that not only serves the world but also feeds you.
So if there’s a certification that you’ve been dragging around with you that isn’t being used or simply isn’t a value add to what you do, give yourself permission to let it go. Sometimes letting go is the best thing we can do because it makes room for something better and more meaningful.
Our goal as instructors and coaches should not be to be like everyone else. It should not be membership in the cult of mediocrity. That’s the danger when we lock ourselves into those mcfitness money machine certifications. It should be to show up as the absolute best version of ourselves every time we step in front of a room, any room, not just the fitness room.. It’s not the letters after your name that make that happen. It’s you. Your confidence, your curiosity and the way you engage and communicate that makes you an excellent instructor. And your willingness to raise the bar for yourself.
Next time on the Work IN we’ll talk about how to raise the bar for our students and make every class love you for it.
Speaking of raising the bar - I have another one day all inclusive yoga retreat in the works in the Ohio area. You won’t want to miss it. To get your name on the list go to Savagegracecoaching.com/retreat to sign up for the info. Space will be limited so make sure you stay in the loop! And if you can connect with me on IG @realsavagrgrace Facebook @savagegracecoaching I’d love to stay in touch!
Hey there!
Thanks for checking out The Work IN! Are you ready to be unshakeable this year?
I spent half my life building my body brand in the fitness industry and now I want to help other seriously stressed professionals avoid the mistakes I made and burnout proof their careers with integrated trauma sensitive class design so that you can be stay confident, creative and compassionate in your scope and format.
Curious how? Click the button to schedule a discovery call today!