Signs A Health Coaching Client Is a Good Fit

Now that you finished your certified health coach program and are officially a certified health coach, it’s time to build your health coaching client list. While it might be tempting to run out and sign up to coach the first person you find, it might not be the best idea for your career. Everyone can benefit from health coaching, but not everyone is the right health coaching client for you.

An important aspect of being a successful health coach is ensuring that you and your clients are a good fit for each other. A successful coaching relationship can lead to better outcomes for your clients and a more fulfilling experience for you as a coach.

But what makes a health coaching client the right one for you? How can you find the right clients? Here are a few ways you can ensure you find the right clients to move your health coaching career forward.

Signs clients are ready for health coaching.

1. Clear Health Goals: Clients who have well-defined and specific health goals are often excellent candidates for health coaching. They should be able to articulate what they want to achieve and why it’s important to them. They might not know how to achieve these goals, but this clarity shows they are serious about their health.
2. Motivation and Commitment: Clients may struggle with motivation, you want to work with someone who is motivated to make some changes. A health coach is more than just an accountability partner and cheerleader. You can work with clients on increasing motivation. Find ways to help them connect more to motivation by creating goals that match abilities and resources. Showing signs of motivation, such as a strong desire to improve, a willingness to invest time and effort, and a readiness to change is vital to a great coach and client relationship.
3. Openness to Coaching: Clients should be open to exploring new ideas and possibilities and understand that they are going to be active participants in their improvement. If a client is very set in their ways or closed to trying new things, they might not be a great fit for coaching.
4. Realistic Expectations: Health coaching clients need to have realistic expectations about what health coaching can achieve. They should understand that change takes time, and there may be setbacks along the way. If a client expects quick results and magical changes overnight, they may not be ready for health coaching.

How can you find the right clients for you?

Identifying Your Niche

Do you have a health coaching niche? Is there one area you plan to focus on in your health coaching practice? Your niche could be based on your own health experiences or something you’re deeply passionate about. Even choosing to focus on general health coaching can be considered a niche. Defining your niche is a great way to find the right clients for you.  These clients will resonate with your expertise and want to focus on specific goals.

Identifying a niche is also a great way to network with other coaches. If a health coaching client comes to you but wants to work outside your niche, you can always refer them to a coach in your network within that niche. A great network, like the one you can build through the FMCA Alumni Program, can also help you find clients for your niche as well.

Schedule a Discovery Call

A discovery call is a great way to determine if a client is a good fit. It allows both you and the potential client to get to know each other, discuss logistics, and assess compatibility. You can get a good sense of a potential health coaching client’s personality and communication style through a discovery call, which will come in handy if you take them on as a health coaching client. Before working with a new client, ask questions about their goals, health background, and past experiences with wellness professionals. This information helps tailor your coaching services to their needs and allows you to decide if you can help them reach their goals or if you should refer them to a different coach for their needs.

Recognize Who Is Not Your Ideal Client

It’s important to know who your ideal health coaching client is, but it’s equally important to identify who your ideal client is not. Coaching those who don’t align with your coaching style could lead to poorer outcomes. Sometimes, turning down a potential client can be just as powerful as taking on a new one.

Authenticity Matters

Being yourself is vital to building trust with your health coaching clients. Coaches and clients need to be honest about their values and goals to get the best outcomes from health coaching. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not or change your values just to attract more clients. Authenticity is essential for health coaching.

Understanding your ideal client involves recognizing who best suits your coaching style and expertise. It’s about pinpointing what motivates you as a health coach. Developing a niche and being authentic can draw in clients who are looking to work with you. If clients are committed and approach coaching with realistic expectations, it can be the beginning of a successful coaching relationship.