Give feedback on effort, not outcomes
Praising the process — consistency, strategy, problem-solving — builds resilience and a growth mindset; praising outcomes alone builds fragility.
- When a client reports a win or a good result
- When a client is being hard on themselves about an outcome
- When reviewing the week's progress — before discussing numbers
- When a client is fragile in their confidence and needs grounding
How a coach gives feedback shapes how a client thinks about themselves and their ability to change. Research by Carol Dweck on growth mindset shows that praise directed at outcomes ("You're talented", "You lost 2kg — great!") inadvertently creates outcome dependency: when results disappear, so does confidence.
Feedback directed at effort and process ("You stayed consistent through a stressful week — that's real discipline", "You noticed what wasn't working and adjusted — that's exactly the skill you need") builds the belief that improvement is within the client's control, making them more resilient to setbacks.
Client: "I only went to the gym twice this week, not three times like I planned." Outcome-focused coach: "Okay, let's get back to three next week." Effort-focused coach: "Tell me about the two sessions you did make. What did you do to make those happen?" Client describes how they rearranged their schedule. Coach: "That kind of problem-solving is exactly what builds a lasting habit. What made the third session hard?" Now they're learning from both success and struggle.
Word-for-word phrases you can use in session.
- You showed up three times this week when life was genuinely hard. That's the skill — not the number on the scale.
- Tell me about the sessions you did make. What did you do to make those happen?
The follow-up question turns the praise into learning — the client articulates their own problem-solving strategy in their own words.
After your next client session, write down three things to praise. Replace any outcome-based praise with process-based praise (e.g., "You lost weight" → "You stayed consistent for four weeks straight — that's the foundation everything else builds on").
When reviewing client progress, always ask "What did they do that led to this result?" before "What was the result?" Make effort visible before outcome.
- Effort praise that feels hollow — 'Great effort!' without specifics doesn't land. Name the exact behaviour and what it demonstrates.
- Ignoring outcomes entirely — clients care about results. Acknowledge the result, then redirect to what the client controlled.
- Praising effort when the strategy genuinely needs to change — sometimes the right response is to examine the plan, not just celebrate the trying.
Source: Dweck, C.S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.
Keep reading.
Ask permission before offering advice
Seeking a client's permission before sharing information or advice shifts the dynamic from expert-to-patient to collaborative, increasing receptivity.
Help clients plan for setbacks before they happen
Clients who anticipate obstacles and pre-plan their response bounce back from stumbles quickly — instead of treating one missed session as proof that the whole attempt has failed.
Use open questions to unlock client insight
Replacing closed yes/no questions with open questions invites clients to explore their own thinking, uncovering goals, barriers, and readiness for change.