Coaching is Collaborative
I think it's easy to forget that coaching should be a 2-way street. Yes, there is a level of trust and respect that should go into the relationship you have with your coach, but to get everything you can from your experience and investment, there should always be an active conversation going. So what does this mean for clients?
1. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Seriously. Ask! I’m a big believer in that if you understand why you’re doing what you’re doing, you’re more likely to follow through and stick with it. I’ve never felt insulted or annoyed when a client asks why we need to spend x number of weeks in maintenance before a cut, or why I’m pushing for lower sodium intake or a new habit. You’re entrusting and investing in an important part of your life with this person, why wouldn’t you take a more active role in understanding the process?
2. Check-in. Even if it’s a bad week or an incomplete week, check-in. I’ll sometimes get a message from a client that’s hesitant to check-in because they feel guilty, and don’t know how to start back up again. Check-ins aren’t only worth something if they’re ‘perfect’, they’re actually meant for all of those hard times in-between. Those hard weeks start a conversation on what you think went wrong, what went right, and how can we approach it differently next time?
3. Keep your coach informed. Whether that be vacations coming up, changes in schedule or sleep, training, health conditions, etc. We don’t just want to know; we need to know to ensure we’re giving you the best tools to go about your lifestyle.
4. Be honest. This is the most important part and is more than just keeping your coach informed. Keeping something you're struggling with not tracking is only hurting you so much more in the long run. As coaches, we're not there to judge you. We're there to help you work through and find solutions that will help fit your lifestyle, but only if you’ll let us. Be honest about your situation and what you need, whether that’s tough love, extra encouragement, or all of the above.
At the end of the day, we just want to see you succeed <3
Written by: Ashley, Black Iron Nutrition Coach