I know that I’ve posted about this in the past, but it keeps coming up and it still gets under my skin. A pet peeve of mine is hearing personal trainers continually say “good” to their clients after each set. The issue I take with this is that it is generic feedback (actually, it’s hardly feedback and more of a simple acknowledgement of completion). With generic feedback, the client learns nothing and nothing in particular is reinforced. 

Try this instead. Look to comment on the particular skill you were having the client focus on. “Great job keeping your chest up.” “I liked the way you pushed through your heels.” “Your posture was great throughout those reps. Super job!” The fact that the feedback is specific to something that you were working on with the client, makes it far more valuable to them than a generic, “Good.” Even if in your own mind the “Good.” refers to that particular skill that you had just been discussing, saying it again reinforces it more.

Don’t settle for “good” when you can be “great” … at giving specific feedback to your clients.