Humans are awesome, amazing and our individual personalities are what make us completely unique beings. Everyone should get along, especially in a trainer/client relationship. I mean, you are both there for the same purpose, right? Well…not every trainer/client relationship is good, and as with a friendship or romantic relationship that has become toxic; you have to know when to let go and move on. Surprisingly it’s hard to do. I am very blessed to have amazing clients that I clicked with immediately and for an instructor, that is like winning the lottery.  Not everyone is so lucky. It is hard for trainers to ‘divorce’ their clients. Here are 3 reasons why:

-I can ‘change’ you. If you’re nicer, cater to them enough, listen more, or give enough ‘tough love’ they’ll realize they shouldn’t show up 30 minutes late, cancel every other week, not brush their teeth, yell at you, or whatever it is that they do that is inappropriate.

-Money talks. It’s tough to give up money without the guarantee of replacing that client with another, especially in today’s economy.

-Excuses, excuses. The client has a tough job/life/spouse/etc., no one to vent to, so I am the sounding board (aka-punching bag). I can’t just abandon them, can I?

Yes, yes you can. The fact is, if an instructor/client relationship isn’t working, you need to end it. Not only are you not helping the client, you are hurting yourself. Some people just don’t click. Resign yourself to the fact that its just not a good fit and you are freeing space in your schedule for someone who will appreciate your teaching and sending that other person on their way to finding someone who is right for them. Hopefully they will understand. Maybe they won’t. That’s not your problem. The same holds true for a client. If your instructor’s teaching style isn’t working for you, that’s ok. If you are at a studio, ask whomever books appointments if they can find someone else for you. Tell the booker what you are looking for in demeanor, skill set, level of experience, etc. If you stay with a teacher that isn’t right for you, you might start canceling and even stop going all together. Don’t feel guilty. A good teacher will understand and they are probably feeling the same way too.

-Jessica Kiuken

Read more about Jessica and visit her blog.