Coaching Resources
Short, actionable tips on communication, motivational interviewing, behaviour change, and coaching skills — designed for health coaches and personal trainers who want to get better at their craft.
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.
Read tip →Reflect back to show you're really listening
Reflecting what a client says — in your own words — demonstrates genuine understanding and encourages deeper exploration.
Read tip →Roll with resistance instead of pushing harder
When clients push back, arguing back makes it worse — stepping back and acknowledging their perspective keeps the door open for change.
Read tip →Elicit change talk by asking for elaboration
When a client expresses any desire, ability, reason, or need to change, asking them to "tell you more" amplifies that motivation.
Read tip →Tie new habits to existing ones (habit stacking)
Linking a new behaviour to an existing routine dramatically increases follow-through by using established neural pathways as an anchor.
Read tip →Make the target behaviour ridiculously small to start
Shrinking a new behaviour to its smallest possible form lowers the motivation threshold, making the first repetition almost effortless.
Read tip →Help clients find their 'why' before the 'what'
Connecting a behaviour goal to a deeper personal value gives it staying power that surface-level goals — lose weight, get fit — never have.
Read tip →Celebrate non-scale wins to build intrinsic motivation
Acknowledging progress beyond numbers — energy, mood, consistency, confidence — builds the intrinsic motivation that sustains long-term behaviour change.
Read tip →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.
Read tip →Give feedback on effort, not outcomes
Praising the process — consistency, strategy, problem-solving — builds resilience and a growth mindset; praising outcomes alone builds fragility.
Read tip →Ready to put these into practice?
Sticky Coach helps you track client habits and conversations — so nothing falls through the cracks.