Coach HubThe one decision you make every week
You don't need a rulebook to coach well. You need two questions, asked every single week:
- Is the client progressing?
- Are they happy?
Performance is the proxy. Results tell you whether the plan is working, and nothing else tells you as honestly. If they're progressing, don't touch it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If they're not progressing, something needs to change, and a conversation needs to be had.
The four answers
| Happy | Not happy | |
|---|---|---|
| Progressing | Don't change a thing. Keep them happy and keep it moving. | Usually an expectations problem. Show them the progress they're missing and map what's next. |
| Not progressing | The danger zone. Often coping or self-limiting. Needs attention and an honest conversation. | Clear signal. Diagnose the main issue and change one thing. |
Reading each box
Progressing and happy. Your job here is to not ruin it. Resist the urge to tinker. Think of it like hospitality: keep the client happy and keep the thing that's working running.
Progressing but not happy. The plan is working, but they can't see it or it's slower than they hoped. Don't change the plan to fix a feeling. Show them the evidence (trend, photos, strength, habits) and give them a clear picture of what the next few weeks look like.
Not progressing but happy. This is the box coaches miss most. Everyone wants to get leaner. A client who says they're happy with progress that isn't happening is usually coping, or quietly holding self-limiting beliefs about what's possible for them. They need extra attention, not a pat on the back.
Not progressing and not happy. At least it's obvious. Work out what's actually going wrong (the later modules give you the tools) and change the one lever that matters most.
The rest of this course is really just detail on how to answer these two questions well, and what to do about each answer.