Personal Trainer Imposter Syndrome, Part 2: A Programme Design Checklist

Imposter syndrome when writing personal training programmes almost always comes from the same place: you're relying on memory and instinct, so every programme feels like a guess you might get caught out on. The fix is a system you trust. This is the approach I use to make sure I've covered every angle of the programme design process.

The checklist

Run every programme through the same sequence and the doubt has nowhere to live.

1. PAR-Q, informed consent and screening. The non-negotiable first step.
2. Identify the client's needs using a structured interview (TGROW — more below).
3. Research the hurdles and issues — injuries, chronic conditions and anything that changes what's safe or appropriate.
4. Physical testing, if it's actually required.
5. Design the long-term periodised plan, where the client needs one.
6. Design the week-one components — the concrete detail: exercises, reps, sets, resistance, rest, and any systems such as pre-exhaust.
7. Design the experience around the beats of a story (more on that in a later blog).
8. Post-session SOAP notes and adjustments, so the programme keeps improving.

I'll unpack each component across this series. The point for now: with a checklist like this, you always know what you've covered and what's next.

Interviewing: getting the right data

Good programmes come from good information, and good information comes from a good interview. I use the TGROW model alongside the "Why Why So So" technique to make sure I gather what actually matters.

TGROW stands for Topic, Goal, Reality, Options and Will — a structured way to understand a client deeply:

• Topic. What the client wants to work on — the primary focus of the session.
• Goal. Their specific objectives, both short and long term. What do they actually want to achieve?
• Reality. Their current situation — fitness level, lifestyle and challenges. This is where the "Why Why So So" technique earns its keep, digging beneath the first answer to find the real drivers. It's something we teach on our Specialist courses.
• Options. The possible actions — which exercises, approaches or modifications could move them towards the goal.
• Will. Their commitment. What are they genuinely ready to do, and how motivated are they to stick to it?

What I'm listening for

Through that interview I'm trying to pin down specific things:

• How hard the client needs to work.
• Which exercises to choose, and which to avoid.
• Which exercises need building from scratch.
• The right resistance training tools for each movement.
• The optimal exercise order for the best outcome.
• The coaching style and sequence that will deliver the best experience.
• Likely hurdles — motivation, injuries, chronic conditions, fears.

Once I have that, I can build a programme that genuinely matches the client's goals. I take detailed notes after every session and focus on delivering a great experience — confident that the programming and exercise selection underneath it are right.

That confidence is the whole point. Follow the system, and the imposter feeling has nothing left to feed on.