Walk into most commercial gyms and you're likely to see a trainer standing next to their client, often with their phone in hand, shouting things like, “C'mon, 3 more!” or “You got this!” The energy is contagious, and to someone just watching, it might seem like that kind of encouragement is exactly what helps people get stronger. But in reality, it's not even close.

As someone who coaches barbell training using the Starting Strength method at the only affiliate gym in Europe, I can tell you there’s a massive difference between mindless yelling and real coaching that leads to consistent, long-term progress. Getting stronger takes more than motivation or being yelled at. It requires solid programming, the appropriate application of stress at the appropriate time, consistency, and most importantly, executing these complex movement patterns correctly. Progress isn’t built on enthusiasm alone, but rather on mastering the details and getting better under the bar, all the time.

Cueing plays an important role in this process. A cue is not just a motivational phrase or a catchy slogan. It is a specific, actionable reminder of a movement detail that helps a lifter make an immediate improvement in how they are executing a lift. As a coach, I’m not just standing around shouting empty phrases I think my clients want to hear. I’m watching closely, spotting deviations from correct technique when they occur, and giving quick, actionable instructions to help the lifter fix things on the next rep. It’s not hype and it's not white noise. It's precision intervention.

It’s also important to understand that cueing is not the time for teaching new concepts. Cueing is about reinforcing what’s already been taught during the teaching progression of each lift. My job during the introductory Barbell Clinic at my gym is to lay the groundwork first, teach the lifts correctly from scratch, and make sure the lifter understands the whys and hows of each. When the bar is on their back and we start squatting in earnest, then and only then do cues come into play. Once the bar is loaded and the work sets begin, the time for teaching is over.

I like to think about coaching the barbell lifts in the way my coaches interacted with us during my professional basketball career. A coach on the sideline isn’t yelling random stuff to fire players up, although it does happen. Rather, they were in constant communication with us to help us make the next play better. The same thing applies to the barbell. Whether it’s a tactile, visual, or verbal cue, the goal is always to the make the next rep – and thus the set – better.

Take the squat, for example. If one of my lifters cuts a rep off short and misses depth, I’m not going to shout, "C’mon, you’ve got this!"and I’m sure as shit not going to say “Good!” Instead – and in real time, right now – I need to identify the issue, figure out why it happened, and how to fix it, by giving him a cue he can process mid-set to make the next rep better. If we’re doing a set of five, I don’t have the luxury of long explanations and there is no way a lifter could process one anyway. I need to give him something quick and clear to react to, like “Knees out!” to bring his attention to the issue and let his body respond.

The same goes for the deadlift. If someone’s struggling to break the bar off the floor, a typical commercial gym trainer might yell, “Pull harder!” But mere yelling cannot and will not fix poor mechanics. As a coach, I'll make sure the bar is over mid-foot, the hips are in the right position and aren't dropping, and whether the lifter has set the low-back properly. Then, I will cue accordingly. When those mechanical things are dialed in, the lift becomes smoother, it feels easier, the set gets completed, the lifter gets stronger, and we can continue progressing. That’s my job and it's what they’re paying me for.

Unfortunately, many trainers rely heavily on hype instead of actually coaching. Meaningless cheering like “Let’s go!” or “No pain, no gain!” might feel energizing, but it doesn't do anything to improve a lifter’s execution during a set. It’s white noise, and a way for trainers to appear engaged without offering anything of actual value. And that’s why so many people come to Brussels Barbell after months (or even years) of “strength training” with personal trainers, only to discover they were never actually taught how to use the barbell. They’ve spent time doing random circuit workouts, machine-based routines, or messing around with light weights and elastic bands without ever having learned the most basic fundamentals of strength. It's unfortunate, but it's common.

In barbell training, hype alone simply will not cut it. You can’t yell someone into better execution, and if they're not moving well (your fault) or not showing up consistently (their fault), progress will stall. No matter how much you scream “Push harder!” at them, they will not get measurably stronger. It's reasonable to assume that he's already pulling hard on a heavy weight, but poor mechanics keeps the bar from moving effectively. A coach who hypes people up without actually teaching them anything of value isn’t just missing the point, they’re doing a disservice to the client, and being dishonest about the service they're providing.

Sure, a little motivation might help push through a tough set every now and then, but if someone’s squatting high or is deadlifting with low hips and the lumbar spine in flexion, you’re not helping them by ignoring it. You’re just cheerleading, and you should be somewhere far away from this person, not calling yourself a coach.

Consider the squat again. It’s not just about dropping your hips in the hole and “drahvin” your ass up. There’s bar placement, grip and grip width, breathing, bracing, eye gaze, staying mid-foot, staying leaned over and in the hips, among many others. We use specific cues to address each of these aspects, whether before or during the set. Every coach might phrase things differently, but the goal for all of us is always the same: help the lifter focus on what matters in that moment. And as they gain experience and confidence under the bar, those cues start to click. They don’t need to think about every little detail anymore, they just squat. When things start to go sideways, as they always do, we'll step in to remind them of what they've already learned. We'll cue them to fix the issue and get back on track.

When trainers skip over actually teaching anything, and go straight towards revving folks up, they’re not doing their job, or quite frankly any job at all. They’re missing the opportunity to help someone build a real, lasting skill set. And in a lot of cases, they’re just taking money from people who don’t know any better. Yes, there’s a time and place for a little motivation, like before the last set of squats on a grisly 5x5 volume Monday but if all you’re offering is a pep talk, then you’re not coaching. You’re cheerleading. And that kind of approach doesn’t just stall progress, it's irresponsible, and it can be dangerous for the lifter.

True progress comes from building skills that someone can use long after they leave your gym. It’s about applying the right stress, at the appropriate time, with correct technique. It’s not just about trying hard – though that obviously matters – it’s about doing things better, over and over, until correct becomes second nature. Coaching helps make that happen, cueing brings it all together, and when it’s done right lifters don’t just move better during the session, they continue to get stronger for years to come.

If I'm doing my job, people won't be dependent on me or Brussels Barbell forever. I want every lifter at my gym to get good enough to eventually become their own coach. I want them to understand the lifts, know how to fix small issues on their own, and build the confidence that comes from mastering hard physical tasks. Sure, they might stick around for the community, the camaraderie, the support, and in some cases, the gym dog, but they’ll have the skills to train independently, wherever they go. That’s not something hype can give them.

Motivation can get you into the gym, but it won’t teach you how to lift. It won’t fix a shallow squat, the elbows dropping in the press, or an arm pull in the power clean. If you’re constantly relying on someone else to pump you up without teaching you how to actually lift correctly, you’re missing out on one of the most valuable parts of strength training: self-awareness – the constituent parts of the movement that must be paid attention to in order to correctly execute the movement. Cueing helps build that awareness, it happens gradually over time, and it’s how a good coach helps lifters progress from needing constant guidance to being able to train on their own wherever they are.

So if you’re serious about getting stronger, tune out the noise and ditch the hype. Coach what matters, when it matters. Get under the bar, and get to work.

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