Have you ever experienced a “runner’s high,” a euphoric state you achieve during prolonged aerobic activity? Equally powerful is what I refer to as “trainer’s high,” a psychological and emotional state experienced by trainers, facilitators, coaches, and instructors when they help others achieve breakthroughs in their professional skills or mental acuity and performance. After a brief hiatus from training, I realized that what I missed most was the euphoria from helping others learn, being the catalyst for new awareness, creating “aha moments” and reviewing the comments and action items after a workshop. A trainer’s high is a profound and motivating experience that blends professional fulfillment, emotional connection, and physiological feedback into a unique state of elevated well-being. Ironically, I did not appreciate my trainer’s high until I stopped training. “You don’t know what you lost until it is gone.”
A trainer’s high includes the sense of exhilaration, satisfaction, and connection that trainers feel when they witness their participants succeed, overcome mental barriers, or make tangible progress. It is that rush of pride when participants report how they have applied what they learned (even after 20 years) and you know you were an integral part of someone’s transformation.
Components of a Trainer’s High
A trainer’s high is rooted in multiple psychological principles. One of the primary factors is vicarious achievement, where the trainer experiences joy and satisfaction through the accomplishments of their clients. This is often accompanied by vicarious empathy, where the emotions of the students’ pride, excitement, and sense of accomplishment are mirrored within the trainer, creating a shared emotional high. Over time, these repeated emotional experiences build a sense of deep purpose and reward. One of my most memorable moments was when a former participant stopped by a new offering of the same program to report to the new group of participants how she was able end a potentially serious issue at a global VP meeting by applying cross-cultural skills from my program. She saw what others could not see. As a new VP, she was able to demonstrate her newly acquired skills and knowledge, which the other VPs did not possess.
Another component of the trainer’s high is the intrinsic motivation trainers often possess. Many trainers and coaches enter the profession not just to make a living but because they believe in the power of expanding awareness, building business skills, personal growth, and improved interpersonal skills. When a client experiences a breakthrough, it validates the trainer’s belief system and reinforces their sense of identity and mission. This connection between professional purpose and personal values is a potent source of psychological reward.
From a physiological perspective, a trainer’s high also may involve biochemical feedback. Watching their participants applying their new skills and providing encouragement and emotional support can trigger the release of dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins—neurochemicals associated with pleasure, bonding, and stress relief. This is especially true in high-engagement training such as group classes, teambuilding, or one-on-one sessions where motivation, encouragement, and interaction are constant. Just as athletes “feed off the crowd,” trainers “feed off their students,” especially in moments of emotional intensity.
A trainer’s high also is amplified by social reward mechanisms. Human beings are wired to value connection and contribution. When a trainer plays a role in someone’s success, they receive both verbal and non-verbal appreciation, smiles, hugs (when culturally appropriate), gratitude, and positive feedback. These responses activate reward centers in the brain and create strong emotional memories. For many trainers, these moments become the fuel that sustains them through the long hours of preparation, physical demands, and occasional unexpected situations that come with the job, such as cancelled flights, fire alarms, medical emergencies, active shooter drills, and other surprises.
The Flip Side
Benefits aside, a trainer’s high is not without its complexities. The emotional investment required can lead to burnout if not managed carefully. Trainers may place high expectations on themselves or feel responsible for client outcomes beyond their control. When progress stalls or clients drop out, it can lead to frustration or self-doubt. This emotional rollercoaster highlights the importance of emotional boundaries, self-care, a holistic perspective, and professional development to sustain a healthy and fulfilling career in training.
The trainer’s high is evolving in the digital age, where trainers often work through online platforms or social media. Virtual applause, likes, comments, and online testimonials can provide a boost, but they also may feel more fleeting and less personal than in-person interactions. There may be a generational difference, as many younger trainers and trainees have been learning and teaching virtually for a greater percentage of their lives. Nonetheless, many trainers find fulfillment through Webinars, storytelling, podcasts, and digital coaching successes, showing that the essence of a trainer’s high may adapt to different modalities.
Importantly, a trainer’s high isn’t reserved solely for corporate training professionals. Volunteer training for community groups and coaching or mentoring members of the community can result in similar states of fulfillment. What unites these experiences is the act of facilitating growth in others and finding joy in shared progress.
The In-Person Rush
While virtual training is fulfilling for me, nothing beats the rush of going into a room and sharing experiences, and learning together and the serendipitous learning and connections that come from interacting during breaks, having lunch or dinner together, participating in informal one-on-one meetings with students after a session when a participant may have a question or situation they want to discuss privately instead of with the class.
The trainer’s high is a powerful, multifaceted experience that blends emotional, psychological, and physiological elements. It is the unspoken reward behind the tireless commitment and dedication shown by training professionals and mentors. At its best, a trainer’s high becomes a virtuous cycle: The more a trainer helps others thrive, the more they are personally fulfilled, and the more fulfilled they are, the more effective and passionate they become. In a world where stress and burnout are common, a trainer’s high experience offers a hopeful reminder that joy, meaning, and connection can still be found in the act of helping others grow.
Have you experienced a trainer’s high? If you have any experiences or stories to share or questions about the trainer’s high, please send them to me at: Neal@NealGoodmanGroup.com
