If you buy into the hype, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize the healthcare industry. It has even been suggested that AI health coaching will cure global chronic metabolic disease—big call, right?

Would an AI health coach keep you accountable?

With obesity on the rise there is a growing demand for weight loss coaching in the United States and around the globe. 

Have you considered weight loss coaching as a career?

Can you remember a time when you felt invincible? Maybe you backed yourself to take the winning shot in a basketball game? Or maybe you nailed a pitch at work to land a big client? Having a healthy mindset holds great power. But sometimes tapping into your invincibility is easier said than done. That’s when a mindset coach can help.

Become the best mindset coach with these 15 growth mindset tips.

If you’re serious about carving a fulfilling and rewarding career in the health and wellness space, then obtaining your NBHWC credential is a must.

Upskill your credential and become NBHWC certified.

Fitness coach versus personal trainer? They may seem like similar roles, but as someone forging a career in the fitness industry, it's essential that you know how they differ. 

The fitness industry is booming and this doesn't look like slowing down. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected 39 percent growth in the fitness industry by 2030; much faster than the average of all occupations.

This rapid growth is due to several factors including:

1. An increased awareness into the importance of health, wellness and fitness by the general population
2. Businesses, large and small investing time and money into employee wellness programs
3. A shift in understanding around the importance exercise plays in combating chronic metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease
4. A greater body of evidence that highlights the benefits active living plays in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and arthritis in the ageing baby boomer generation

It's safe to say that investing in a career as a fitness professional is a wise move, but which path will you choose? Fitness coach or personal trainer?

Here, we compare and contrast the major differences between a personal trainer and a fitness coach, to help you decide which fitness profession is the best career choice for you.

A fitness coach helps their clients become the healthiest they can be.

Let’s debunk the myth that all fitness coaches are in their 20s and 30s and sport rock-hard abs. The truth is, fitness coaches can be all ages, genders and body shapes. Fitness coaches attract clients based on their interests and their niche. Your ideal client wants you to coach them. Whether you’re over 50, under 30, male, female or LGBTQIA+, have muscles like Arnie or not so much, it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re relatable to your target audience, they will want you to help them reach their fitness goals.

If your passion is to help your clients move better, build strength and enjoy their fitness, then it’s up to you, to arm yourself with the skills and knowledge to help them achieve their fitness goals. In this post, we’ll explore our top 5 reasons why becoming a fitness coach is the best choice for you.

What Is a Fitness Coach?

A fitness coach mentors and guides their clients towards their fitness goals using a series of strategies including:

• Teaching movement techniques to prevent injury
• Developing personalized programming to keep fitness fun and engaging
• Motivating and encouraging clients to achieve their goals
• Tracking progress
• Providing accountability to keep clients focused on the long game

Fitness coaches work in gyms, functional fitness studios, health clubs, recreation centers, yoga studios, in private practice and online.

The job outlook for fitness professionals is promising. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fitness industry is projected to grow 39 percent from 2020-2030; well above the average for all occupations in the United States.

Fitness coaches currently find employment in a wide variety of areas within the fitness industry, including:

• One-on-one coaching
• Group fitness classes
• Online coaching

Fitness coaches can also be referred to as fitness instructors, and they work with their clients to achieve an array of different goals, including:

• Weight loss
• Injury rehab
• Enhanced performance in elite athletes
• Stress management
• Increased strength
• Improved cardiovascular fitness
• Greater general health and fitness

If you’re interested in a career change, or looking to up-skill with a fitness certification, now is the perfect time to explore what a career as a fitness coach would look like for you.

Top 5 Reasons You Should Become a Fitness Coach

There’s so much more to being a fitness coach than simply teaching your clients how to squat with good technique. Here are our top 5 reasons you should become a fitness coach:

1. Earn Your Living Doing What You Love

Wouldn’t it be nice to actually enjoy going to work. To spend your days in your happy place and making a living out of it? If you’re someone who loves working out and helping others, then being a fitness coach would be a fantastic career choice for you.

Sharing your love for fitness with your clients feels pretty amazing. There’s nothing better than hearing that your client’s favorite hour of their day was working out with you.

2. Accountability for Your Own Training

Motivation has its ups and downs, even for fitness coaches. When your clients show up and put in the work. it gives you extra drive to exercise when your motivation is low.

As a fitness coach myself, it would feel unauthentic to expect my clients to get their heart pumping when I’m not doing it myself. Knowing that my clients look up to me provides me with the accountability I need to put in the work and prioritize movement into my life.

3. Flexible Work Hours

If you’re looking for flexible work hours, then fitness coaching may be a great fit for you. Many coaches work “out of hours” to accommodate the standard 9-5 work schedule held by their clients. This often involves working early mornings and late nights, with large periods of “free time” in the middle of the day. You can use this time to work on your own fitness, or you may fill it with other commitments, such as family time or working another job.

4. Boost Your Earning Potential

Holding a fitness certification alongside a health or wellness credential is likely to boost your earning potential.

Potential clients are looking for a coach that has a well-rounded knowledge-base to help them achieve sustainable lifestyle change. Having credentials in both health and fitness coaching gives you credibility in the eyes of your prospective clients, and should give you the confidence to charge accordingly.

5. Being a Fitness Coach Is Fulfilling

As a fitness coach you build a unique rapport with each of your clients. They confide in you, they share their fears and their dreams with you, so when they smash their own goals, there is no other feeling like it. When you help your client break through their own perceived barriers it feels pretty awesome.

Fitness Coach Credentials

We’ve discussed our top 5 reasons why you should become a fitness coach. Now it’s time to explain how you can become one.

Many fitness coaches hold a fitness credential (often more than one). These certifications can be in the broad field of “fitness” or they can be a specialized qualification in a niche area of fitness such as:

• Yoga
• Strength and conditioning
• Weightlifting
• Senior’s fitness
• Aqua aerobics
• Gymnastics
• CrossFit
• Children’s fitness

A fitness coach certification does not make you a personal trainer (which is a separate qualification, usually an associate and bachelor degree). This is not to say that a fitness coach does not also hold a personal training qualification (I do). In fact, many fitness coaches also hold other health, fitness and wellness credentials in fields such as:

• Personal training
• Health coaching
• Nutrition coaching
• Massage therapy
• Exercise science
• Physical education
• Kinesiology

When deciding on what fitness coaching course to invest your time and money into, it’s important to choose wisely. Ask yourself the following questions:

“What type of fitness do you enjoy?”

“Who would be your ideal client to coach?

Answering these two questions will help you define your coaching and client niche, which will help you decide on the direction of your studies and your coaching practice.

Primal Fitness Coach Certification

If you’re passionate about ancestral health and wellness then we have some exciting news for you. We, at the Primal Health Coach Institute, are thrilled to announce that our new flagship fitness course, the Primal Fitness Coach certification is open for enrollment.

The Primal Fitness Coach course underpins the 10 Primal Laws first introduced by Mark Sisson in his bestselling book, The Primal Blueprint. Our comprehensive course will cover all the fitness essentials including:

• Fitness for health
• Everyday movement
• Human posture
• Movement fundamentals
• Breathing
• Stretching
• Mobility
• Balance
• Injury prevention
• Cardiovascular fitness
• Endurance training
• Resistance training
• Sprinting
• Jumping
• HITT
• Achieving peak performance
• Avoiding burnout
• Recovery

This course has no prerequisites and is suitable for all fitness levels. Are you ready to take the next step towards becoming a certified Primal Fitness Coach? Find out all you know need to know and more here.

Recap

To recap, fitness coaches are in the business of making fitness inviting, fun and accessible to their target audience. It’s a myth that all fitness coaches are young and ripped. The truth is, fitness coaches are everyday people, looking to make an impact in their clients’ lives, just like you and me. It’s time for you to become the fitness coach you dream to be!

Think of a wellness vision as a directive goal that underlies the entire coaching process. The vision is more broad and progressive compared to a typical outcome goal—like, to lose 20 pounds—and is the driving force behind each clients’ wellness mission.

A wellness vision is a compelling statement of who you are and what health-promoting, life-giving behaviors you want to realize for yourself—starting now.

When coaches co-design a wellness vision early in the coaching process, it helps set the tone of the coaching relationship, building trust and rapport early on and getting clear on the client’s path of inspiration towards goal setting for weeks or months to come.

In today’s article, we’re sharing:

7 Steps to Start Co-Designing a Wellness Vision with Your Client

5 Qualities of an Effective Wellness Vision

6 Out-of-the-Box Wellness Vision Strategies

and 16 Open Questions For Health Coaches to Consider While Co-Designing a Wellness Vision

To better understand the complexity and relevance of a wellness vision, the coaching experts behind Wellcoaches created this graphic metaphor, called “Mount Lasting Change” (image below)—which is explained in-depth inside the Coaching Psychology Manual (Moore, Jackson, and Teschannen-Moran).

The bottom level of this change pyramid speaks to the elements of a wellness vision that represent your clients’ most meaningful purpose and motivators for change.

Notice, on the Vision level, the following elements not only provide information and support for the wellness vision, but also prepare the client for the next stage of change on the pyramid—the preparation level.

The Vision process is supported by:

• Self-Awareness + Responsibility: the client begins “taking charge” and accepting personal responsibility for change.
• Strengths: what strengths, abilities, and resources have proven successful in other areas of the client’s life?
• Values: representing the client’s purpose and deeper meaning for change; who do they want to be?
• Benefits + Information: the client is aware of the benefits of change, and obtains information or education to support self-efficacy and the change process.
• Challenges + Strategies: identification and discussion of conflicting motives, obstacles, and limiting beliefs are ongoing processes during the early stages of change and in the coaching relationship.

Why is it so essential to help your clients design a wellness vision?

A meaningful personal vision contributes to your client’s motivational energy as they move towards their desired goals. It also serves as a foundation on which to build reinforcing platforms for action, results, and an ongoing commitment to their best self.

“Devoting the time to generously explore these vision-level building blocks, prior to moving into preparation and action, is enlightening and valuable. Revisiting and reinforcing the vision building blocks along the way breathes life and inspiration into the change process.” (Moore, p. 107, 2nd Edition)

7 Steps to Start Co-Designing a Wellness Vision with Your Client

Adapted from Coaching Psychology Manual (Moore, p. 131, 2nd Edition)

Step 1. Explain the value of a wellness vision.

Step 2. Discuss what’s working now regarding the client’s health-promoting efforts and behaviors.

Step 3. What are the client’s strengths?

Make a list together, exploring hallmark strengths and lesser-known gifts the client can leverage to overcome challenges or experience more ease in the change process. This is a good time also to ask what achievements they’re most proud of as well as challenges they’ve overcome in the past when they may have doubted themselves before.

Step 4. Identify what people, places, activities, or things help the client thrive and feel most full of life.

Step 5. What changes are most important to the client right now?

Step 6. What are the benefits of making the changes now? What is the driving force and motivation behind this desire to change?

Step 7. Support the client in articulating their wellness vision, using the present tense as if it’s already happened.

Ask for details including the most important elements of the vision, what it looks like and feels like to be at their ideal level of wellness. Ask, “What kind of person are you when you realize this version of yourself?”

5 Qualities of an Effective Wellness Vision

Ask yourself if your vision hits these marks:

1. Is it grounded? (building on your current status)
2. Is it bold? (stretching your current status)
3. Is it important to you right now? (you’re driven to take action now)
4. Is it palpable? (believable and written as if it were true)
5. Is it participatory? (involving relationships or having an effect on others)

6 Out-of-the-Box Wellness Vision Strategies

As with all strategies of effective coaching, it’s important to remember that each client is unique. A traditional wellness vision statement may not resonate with a particular client, while some of these more creative, out-of-the-box versions will.

1. A coach-guided visualization exercise.
2. Create an acronym. For example, STRIVE: Self-Aware, Truthful, Resilient, Introspective, Valiant, Essentialism
3. Design a vision board.
4. Write a wellness vision in the form of poetry.
5. Express your vision through art or music.
6. Write a letter from the perspective of your future self.

16 Open Questions to Consider While Co-Designing a Wellness Vision

1. How would your life be different if you discovered a healthy, more confident version of yourself? Describe, in detail, the feelings and things you’ll experience when you realize this version of yourself.
2. What are one or more things you most want to achieve in your life?
3. What do you believe is possible for you in the next year (3 years, or 5 years)?
4. What would you like to experience more of in your life?
5. What part of your life is most important to you? Follow-up question: In what ways can that align with your well-being?
6. What would you like to experience less of in your life? Follow-up question: What are some obvious or even imaginary ways that could be possible?
7. What gives you energy or excites you? Follow-up question: In what ways can this enhance your well-being?
8. What are you like when you’re at your best? When you shine, when you feel great, when others are drawn to you?
9. What strengths and skills do you possess that make certain parts of your work or life more effortless or enjoyable?
10. What resources (time, money, freedom, family/friends, groups) do you have that can be leveraged to help you succeed on your wellness journey?
11. What do you see yourself doing consistently 3 months from now that would get you closer to your wellness goals?
12. What are your primary motivators to change?
13. What keeps you going when times get tough?
14. What will you experience from making these changes? How will it feel?
15. What are some of the top values in your life? Consider principles you live by, areas of your life that are your passions, positive characteristics that define you or drive you…
16. How might your values be connected to your journey for well-being?

Now that you have the map to help co-design a wellness vision with your health coaching clients, think about when and how this will fit into your coaching process. Remind your clients that this helps them get excited about the possibilities for their future. It’s all about what’s truly important to them as an individual because that’s what will have the most fulfilling impact on their life.

]]> https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/blog/6-ways-to-structure-group-health-coaching-online/ Mon, 13 Jul 2020 22:14:01 +0000 https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/?p=7840

Once you’ve settled into your niche with one-on-one clients and a coaching methodology that works, you may find that the pros of group coaching outweigh the cons, and it’s time to progress in your business with a newly structured offering.

Dozens of variations exist for group coaching, no doubt, but it’s important to understand that group coaching is different from group classes and fully-automated programs. It sounds enticing to throw up information and teach, while passively generating income, of course. However, patience and experience come first.

Take it from health coach educator Erin Power, as she shares her experience crafting her ideal group coaching offer:

“I had thought that all people needed was a pile of education; that they’d be so impressed by how smart I was, they’d open their wallets for me. Turns out, what they really need is help…so I pivoted again, putting more emphasis on the coaching relationship. This was the ticket…I had spent nearly three entire years tweaking and experimenting with the program before it finally got to this point.”

It’s your turn to decide what your ideal clients need from you, so…

Here are 6 tried-and-true group health coaching formats that will get your entrepreneurial juices flowing, all which can be conducted online.

1. Group Challenge

Location: Virtual or In-Person

# of Clients: Typically 6-30 people, sometimes limitless

Structure: Preset Programming (Optional: Personalized Coaching) 

Launch Type: Fixed Date 

Example Flow…

I’ve been collaborating with a personal trainer to coach a 6-week weight-loss challenge where 30 participants start and end on the same date. They join us on a virtual welcome workshop, and we use this time to educate and review the guidelines detailed in our program’s manual and e-cookbook which they received in advance.

Each member gets two 15-minute virtual check-ins with each coach (first sessions during week one, and the next sessions are at the halfway point). The trainer reviews food logs twice a week, and I go live weekly, teaching lessons and taking questions. Every challenger has access to us via email or Facebook, and most daily interactions occur in the private Facebook group where our intimate community is built. At the end of the program, everyone is offered a 3-week extension or private coaching options.

2. Small Group Coaching: Niche Single Sessions

Location: Virtual or In-Person

# of Clients: 2-10 people

Structure: Personalized Coaching 

Launch Type: Fixed Date (single session)

Example Flow…

I collaborated with the LIFE Fasting mobile app to lead semi-private group coaching sessions to guide individuals on fasting for sustainable weight loss.

This format is very unique among other group coaching structures because it is a single, noncommittal session—and I believe it is for that reason the seats are selling out twice a month.

During the one-hour session, I coach 5 people on zoom, for $19 per person, and the flow goes something like this: I take 30-60 seconds to remind them who I am and explain the call  structure. Then I ask everyone to state their name and share a quick recent win, no matter how small or big, as it relates to fasting. I go first, to break the ice and share my own example of a seemingly small win.

I then invite them, one at a time—while others stay muted—to share with me their personal fasting challenges and goals (which benefits the entire group as they listen along). Within 50 minutes, each client receives personalized coaching guidance from me, and everyone is clear on what they’re working on moving forward. I’m sure to remind them that these group calls occur monthly, and I’m available for personal coaching if they visit my website.

3. Small Group Coaching: Niche Series

Location: Virtual or In-Person

# of Clients: 2-10 people

Structure: Personalized Coaching 

Launch Type: Fixed Date (multiple sessions)

Example Flow…

Collaborating with that same company (LIFEomic), I offer a coaching mini-series that includes 3 group coaching sessions in 30 days to help individuals achieve sustainable weight loss with intermittent fasting. Sessions are on a recurring weekday and time, with a one-week break between sessions two and three.

Since we’ll be together for 30 days, I aim to build cohesiveness within the group. When a client joins the call, they’ve already submitted a brief intake form, and I ask them to state their name and intention for this group series (one by one). I start the call with an inspiring lesson or story that I or a client has experienced (relevant to the niche), and then I give each individual up to 10 minutes with me (while other participants are muted).

By the end of the call, everyone has a unique focus for the week that inches them closer to their individual goals. In the last session, I make it known that personal coaching is available if they’d like to dive deeper, and I remind them to keep an eye out for the next set of group coaching dates.

4. Small Group Coaching: Niche Membership

Location: Virtual or In-Person

# of Clients: 2-10 people

Structure: Personalized Coaching 

Launch Type: Evergreen (subscription model)

Example Flow…

Similar to the small group series I just described, this is made different by turning it into a subscription model. The group will be ongoing and take place on a recurring date/time of the week. Members can come and go, but the group always has a max of 6-10 people working towards a similar goal. The group dynamic is very important here because your goal is to foster trust and a bond between members so that they feel a sense of belonging and continue with their membership.

I learned about this subscription model from my business coach Alan Brown when I joined his weekly Time Management group. Recently, Alan explained to me that a subscription model has two benefits to the coach:

“First, it creates recurring income, compared to the typical group coaching model that has a finite start and end date—after which you have to re-market it to generate more members and revenue. Second, because it’s a subscription, you can price it a bit lower, which lowers the barrier to purchase.”

5. Online Course

Location: Virtual 

# of Clients: Typically Limitless

Structure: Preset Programming (Optional: Personalized Coaching)

Launch Type: Fixed Date or Evergreen

Example Flow…

I created a signature course to coach people through my flexible intermittent fasting approach. It’s a multimedia online course (hosted on a course platform called Kajabi), and it’s comprised of videos, text-based lessons, and PDF workbooks and handouts.

I used an evergreen model that allows members to join and start at any time. Clients take the learning materials at their own pace, but they’re encouraged to complete it within 35 days. They can leave comments in the course, asking me questions or engaging with other members. I’ve set up automated emails to keep them accountable, and they can reply to speak with me personally. It’s also common for online courses to include weekly Q&A calls, live lessons, and/or a Facebook group for community.

6. Online Membership

Location: Virtual 

# of Clients: Typically Limitless

Structure: Preset Programming and Personalized Coaching

Launch Type: Evergreen or Fixed Date

Example Flow…

Clients pay a recurring monthly (or annual) subscription to join your private community and access a membership site that hosts an ever-growing library of cooking videos and meal plans that you add to on a weekly or monthly basis.

This exclusive collection of valuable content supports clients in solving the common challenges they experience when first switching from a standard diet to a whole foods diet and lifestyle.

To increase client engagement and commitment, you create different experiences like fun cooking challenges and virtual grocery shopping trips, and you invite members to share their food photos. Building a strong member community is vital to the success of a membership model, and you decide to foster this by hosting monthly masterminds, on Zoom, where members interact to exchange insights, common obstacles, and future plans.

Let’s close with a bit of advice from veteran health coach Erin Power,

“I can anticipate the trajectory of my group participants’ journey because I’ve spent years learning the journey with my individual clients. The results my clients are achieving are incredible, marketable, and predictable…Build confidence in your coaching methodology, and clarity around your product first. Scale it as a group program later.”

]]> https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/blog/how-do-i-decide-between-one-on-one-and-group-health-coaching/ Tue, 28 Apr 2020 19:19:29 +0000 https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/?p=7615

It’s tempting, as a new coach, to offer all sorts of programs to your audience. You’ve got plenty of ideas and you want to try them all!

So what’s wrong with offering too many programs?

The first thing to consider is: There’s only one of you. It’s not easy to simultaneously work with clients while you’re developing new programs and marketing them.

The second consideration is: As a new coach, it’s recommended that you first gain experience coaching clients before you broaden your offerings. “Once you’ve worked with a lot of clients, you’ll have a much better idea of what questions and roadblocks come up consistently, where people struggle, what they’re looking for, and what works best,” says health coach marketing expert Amy Lippman.

The third consideration is: Your audience can get overwhelmed if you promote too many options. Two options are a great goal to strive for while you’re still new; this gives people different prices and levels of commitment to consider.

The following sections will help you decide between focusing on one-on-one coaching or group coaching for your new health coaching business.

What Worked for You?

If you’ve ever hired a coach before or participated in group coaching, think about what worked best for you. Maybe you liked the personal attention of working with someone one-on-one. Or maybe you liked the community aspect of a group class. The way you learned might be the most effective way for you to coach others.

Are They Asking for What You Want to Offer?

Another sign that you should consider is if your audience is literally asking for what you’re offering. This happened to me twice this year, where a potential client requested group coaching. These clients even asked other people if they’d be interested in the arrangement before they approached me with the idea! So, if they’re coming to you and telling you what they want, then you know there’s a demand for it.

Let’s dig deeper into the many pros and cons of each type of coaching: One-on-One Coaching vs. Group Coaching.

One-on-One Coaching

Pros:

• Better relationship building and behavior change. In a personal one-on-one setting, you have more time with each client. There’s more room to explore emotional blocks and thought patterns in a private session compared to the capabilities you have in a group setting. Together you can more adequately address obstacles and optimize behavior to achieve desired results.

• More Experience and Insights Regarding Ideal-Client Trends. The experience of personal coaching is important for new coaches. You’ll learn common pain points that your clients share, and you’ll get an idea of the type of clients you attract. Once you learn this, you’re more equipped to create a group program that’s speaking to the needs of your future clients.

• Your pricing and programming can change to fit client needs. When you’re coaching clients individually, you can craft more tailored programs and pricing to better fit individuals’ needs. You can even coach individuals through a pre-built 12-week Primal Health Coach program flow (in the Primal Health Coach Business Resource Center for graduates).

• More opportunities to surprise your clients and over-deliver. More time spent with your individual clients means more time listening to the things they need. Imagine that your client says they’re bored of the same lunch every week. You can give them a few ideas on how to change it up. Then, outside of the session, pull together a few recipes and send them over to your client as a surprise. This bonus makes them feel heard and supported.

Cons:

• The price can be out of reach for some people. Depending on your client demographic, you may find that the price of private coaching is not affordable for many. This is another reason group coaching business models tend to do well.

• It’s not very scalable. As a business model, one-on-one coaching isn’t as scalable as group coaching. You can only take on so many clients at a time, and there’s a limit to how much your target audience is willing to pay.

• Simultaneous marketing and coaching skills are needed. It’s great if you start filling up your client roster, but while all the coaching itself is going on, you’ll need automated systems in place to create consistent income.

• Clients lack a sense of community or peer support usually experienced during group coaching (though you can make up for this somewhat if you have a fairly engaged Facebook group or other online community with a similar message).

Group Coaching

Pros:

• It’s more cost-effective. Group coaching is a great way to offer your coaching services at a lower price point. The price range can be determined by the number of people you’ll allow in the group, and how much time you’ll devote to the group on a weekly basis.

• It’s easier to stay within your scope-of-practice. No matter the state you live in, and the coaching parameters, you can create group coaching programs that fall within the legal guidelines. Generalized meal plans and exercise programs are a smart way to offer actionable advice to your clients while staying within your scope-of-practice.

• Allows a sense of community and peer support. This is an important element that personal coaching lacks. The built-in accountability and support provided by the group creates a sense of belonging. When a person witnesses other individuals making positive changes, it can empower them to face their own obstacles and strive for change.

• Built-in accountability. In a 2013 study on group health coaching, they discovered that “when individuals make commitments toward their goals in front of the group, they feel a greater sense of responsibility to follow through.” The members feel accountable to their fellow group members and to their coach.

• A more scalable business model. There are many more growth opportunities for your business when you offer group coaching because the price point is lower, it requires less of a time investment from you, and you can coach more clients at once. You can eventually scale to online courses, corporate coaching, and memberships.

• It’s an easier “Yes.” A typical customer-attraction journey first involves drawing in your potential clients, then offering them a free resource to get them on your email list. Once they get to know and value you as an expert, the next step is to have them progress into a paying client. Group coaching gives you a chance to get people in the door with a low-cost offer.

Cons:

• Availability obstacles. Group coaching requires all members to have a mutually available time to meet. That can make it more difficult to fill a group. One plus side is that group sessions can be recorded and shared with members who miss meetings. 

• Additional coaching skills required. Managing a group will often require some extra skills to handle particular challenges that are group driven. One example is to cheer on members who progress while being supportive to members who are stuck. Another coaching challenge would be to moderate any disruptive behavior before it negatively impacts others.

• Nailing the right social dynamic. In the aforementioned 2013 study on group health coaching, the researchers explained that “as with any group, coaching groups typically involve a mixture of quieter, more introverted individuals and more extroverted individuals. Well-trained coaches can manage this mix by drawing out quieter clients and redirecting talkative ones.”

• Simultaneous marketing, coaching skills, and strategic programming needed. You’ll need automated systems and consistent marketing to ensure that there are clients ready to book with you. For instance, you might launch groups that start and end on a certain date so that you know you’ll have consistent income for that time period. You might also have an evergreen group that allows members to come and go as they please. The latter allows you to always attract new clients without the pressure of a launch.

As you can see, there are plenty of advantages and disadvantages to both types of coaching. As a new health coach, it’s only natural to feel inspired to try new things with your business, but remember to master the basics first. Your programs will constantly evolve as you learn along the way.

]]> https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/blog/5-behavior-change-theories-to-make-you-a-better-health-coach/ Mon, 28 Oct 2019 21:20:09 +0000 https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/?p=7132

You know your stuff, you’re an all-around awesome coach, and you’re ready to change lives. But just because you’re ready for change doesn’t mean your clients are. Even the most educated and experienced health coach can’t make someone put down their favorite Standard-American-Diet food-of-choice and start a fitness regimen if they don’t want to.

That’s because you can’t just know what to say—you have to know the best way to say it.

Asking your clients the right questions is important. However, you also need to know the most effective ways to interact with them. If you’re enrolled in the Primal Health Coach Institute, you may have seen the recent updates we’ve made to the curriculum, which dive into proven techniques to inspire behavior changes in your clients. If not, read on, because in today’s post we’ll be highlighting 5 powerful behavior change theories that will make you a more effective health coach, including:

• The Transtheoretical Model
• Self-Determination Theory
• Social Cognitive Theory
• Motivational Interviewing
• Appreciative Inquiry

What’s the Transtheoretical Model?

The long answer: Change isn’t something that happens instantly; it requires time, commitment, and the right guidance. That’s the idea behind the Transtheoretical Model (TTM)—and it’s the reason we recommend PCHI graduates package their coaching services into a program that’s at least 3 months long.

Developed by researchers in the late 1970s, this technique is based on the premise that change is a cyclical process (versus a one-time act). It relies on a person’s commitment to change and the willingness to make decisions accordingly throughout the different ‘stages of change’ cycle, which are:

• Precontemplation. Your clients are likely ignoring their health challenges at this point, or they’re not aware of the consequences of their poor eating habits or sedentary lifestyle.
• Contemplation. Here, they start to see the benefits of making a change, but still feel ambivalent about actually doing it.
• Preparation. Your clients are sold on the idea that changing their behavior can lead to better health and are gearing up to take action (i.e. putting down the cookies and picking up some weights).
• Action. They’re leaving old habits behind and are all-in on embracing healthier lifestyle choices.
• Maintenance. Your clients are keeping up with the changes they’ve integrated and resisting the temptation to slip back into previous habits (and previous stages).
• Termination. This is the ultimate goal of a health transformation, where your clients have no desire to go back to their old ways.

The path to change isn’t as simple as going from A to B though, since reverting to old habits is extremely common. Relapses are usually influenced by decisional balancing (weighing the pros and cons of the change) and self-efficacy, which reflects how confident your clients are in their ability to change, even when the going gets tough.

The short answer: In TTM, you’re guiding your clients through the different stages of the change cycle to achieve long-term success.

What’s Self-Determination Theory?

The long answer: The more determined your clients are, the more likely they are to stick with a change and reach their health goals—that’s what Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is all about. And according to the researchers who came up with it, people become determined when three specific psychological needs are satisfied:

• The need for competence. Your clients will feel competent when they master a skill or behavior, when they take responsibility for their health, or when their actions have a positive effect on others.
• The need for connectedness. Encourage your clients to enlist the support of their friends and family as they work toward their health goals. This will help create a feeling of belonging.
• The need for autonomy. People want to be in control of their behaviors and goals. The act of being involved in the changes they’ll be making (choosing when they exercise or what recipes they make) plays a huge role in how motivated they are.

These psychological needs can be met by both internal motivators like participating in activities your clients enjoy, and external motivators like reward systems or a lower number on the scale. As a health coach, you can help your clients foster their own self-determination by providing positive feedback, facilitating relationships with like-minded clients, and letting them have a say in what habits they’re changing.

The short answer: With SDT, you’re helping your clients find the internal and external motivators that will keep their determination strong as they work toward their goals.

What’s Social Cognitive Theory?

The long answer: This theory is based on the idea that when people (i.e. your clients) watch someone else model a behavior and witness the consequences (good or bad), they use that information to guide their own behaviors. Sometimes it even prompts them to make a change they’ve attempted before. As their health coach—you get to be the conductor of that change.

Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) is broken down into six key aspects:

• Reciprocal Determinism. This is the foundation of SCT, and it’s about how clients’ behaviors are influenced by their own experiences and personality as well as their social environment—it’s a reciprocal relationship.
• Observational Learning. By being a role model for your clients (eating an ancestral diet, lifting heavy, getting enough sleep), you allow them to observe your actions and then model them.
• Self-Efficacy. If your clients are confident that they can make a behavior change and get positive results, they’re more likely to do it. You can encourage their success by helping them set small, attainable goals.
• Behavioral Capability. A client’s behavioral capacity is directly related to their knowledge and skill level. So instead of writing down the primal movements you want them to do, demonstrate them to make sure your client really understands.
• Reinforcements. Incentives that reward your client for their actions (ditching the processed food, sprinting one day a week) help reinforce their behavior changes.
• Expectations. These are usually influenced by past experiences, however, you can help manage a client’s expectations by creating realistic goals.

The short answer: Your clients will learn more quickly (and initiate their own behavior changes) by observing others and seeing the consequences of their actions.

What’s Motivational Interviewing?

The long answer: This technique shifts clients from acting wishy-washy to full-on committed by tapping into the real reasons why they want to make a change. So, if you’re working with someone who doesn’t seem ready to get healthy, this is the most effective technique you can use.

Your client probably knows that they need to avoid processed food, get off the couch, or stop burning the candle at both ends. With Motivational Interviewing (MI), you help them discover why they should do it by using these 5 key principles:

• Expressing empathy. Create a safe environment so your clients can explore their motivations for staying stuck or moving toward a healthier way of life. You’ll do this by being present, acknowledging their autonomy, and actively listening.
• Supporting discrepancies. If your clients are aware of the discrepancies between where they are and where they want to go, they’ll be more motivated to change. Asking open-ended questions is a great way to bring these to light.
• Avoiding argument. Your job isn’t to prove a point or debate about the health benefits of red meat or coconut oil, it’s to guide them toward figuring out what they need to do to make change happen.
• Rolling with resistance. If your clients are resistant to change, approach it differently. Reflect back to them what they’re saying, so they feel heard instead of acting defensive. And then, listen for change talk. Instead of “I won’t stop drinking soda…” you might start to hear, “I can start cutting back…”
• Support Self-Efficacy and Optimism. Your clients’ self-confidence may lag during the time you work together, but you can offer constant support by doing things like reminding them of their strengths, helping them brainstorm action steps to get closer to their goals, and sharing inspiring success stories.

It’s all about building trust between you and your client, uncovering the reasons why they’re not making changes, and nurturing a commitment to start taking action.

The short answer: MI helps you tap into your clients’ own desires for making changes when they’re not fully onboard with taking steps toward their goal.

What’s Appreciative Inquiry?

The long answer: It’s an approach that focuses on the things that are going right vs. ones that are going wrong (or need to be changed). With Appreciative Inquiry (AI) you’ll identify what’s working for your client, analyze why it’s working well, and then have them do more of it.

It’s based on the idea that we grow in the direction of where we put our attention. And when we inquire about and celebrate past and present strengths and wins, we help our clients become more successful in the long-term.

The four stages you’ll take your clients through using AI are:

• Discover. Here’s where you’ll gather information about your clients’ successes and see what’s working. Maybe they’ve already given up fast food, or they have a gym routine down. Inquire about the positives in their life.
• Dream. In this stage, your clients will visualize what’s possible for them. How do they want things to be in the future? Do they want to fit in an airplane seat better? Live to see their grandkids go to college? Get off their medications for good?
• Design. How will these ideas be put into action? In the Design phase, you’ll help your clients figure out what their next steps are. They might decide to clear all the processed food out of the house, or look up paleo recipes that sound interesting.
• Deliver. This stage is about doing. You’ll be empowering your clients to carry their ideas forward, guiding them to complete the action steps they created in the Design phase.

The short answer: Instead of fixing what’s “wrong,” AI focuses on your clients’ strengths and successes to encourage more positive behaviors.

Conclusion

It’s not just about saying the right things to your clients, it’s about knowing the right way to say it. If you like the idea of empowering your clients to find their own motivation, you might try Self-Determination Theory. Or maybe you’re more of a “focusing on the positive” kind of coach. If that’s the case, you may like using Appreciative Inquiry. Or you could choose aspects from each theory based on your clients’ individual needs and your communication style.

There’s no wrong answer.

No matter what your coaching preference is, these 5 behavior change theories will help you become a more effective health coach so your clients can more effectively reach their goals.