For new coaches, helping clients stay motivated outside of sessions is one of the most common challenges. No matter how enthusiastic clients seem when you meet with them, they might have trouble maintaining motivation in between sessions or long term.
If you’re struggling with this challenge, it might reassure you to know that many life coaches face it at some point in their careers. Clients can lose focus for all kinds of reasons, from self-doubt to life distractions.
You might not be able to prevent your clients from losing motivation. But having the tools and life coaching skills to handle this issue when it comes up helps ensure that you’re able to get them back on track!
*Disclaimer: Life coaches do not provide medical, nutritional, or mental health advice. Those needing support in these areas are encouraged to contact a licensed professional.
Why life coaching clients lose motivation
Motivation isn’t constant — it naturally fluctuates. So it makes sense that a coaching client’s ability to stay motivated ebbs and flows. Think of it as part of the process, rather than a failure. But knowing why it can happen can help you better understand what your clients might be struggling with, so you can help them feel motivated again.
Their goals lack emotional connection
Motivation that comes from within, or intrinsic motivation, can lead to long-term commitment. But if goals are vague or externally motivated, clients aren’t as likely to stay committed to working on them. Getting to the “why” behind a client’s goal can help them form an emotional connection that boosts motivation.
Example: A client who wants to lose weight may lose motivation if they’re only doing it to please other people. So you might help them focus on how their goal can improve their life or raise their self-esteem, rather than dwelling on external motivators, like approval from others.
They feel overwhelmed or stuck
Sometimes, clients freeze up or feel stressed about working on goals. If their goals feel too big or unclear, this can push them into inaction, which makes it hard to get motivated.
Helping clients break down big or vague goals into small, achievable steps is the key to motivating them. These smaller, measurable goals are a manageable roadmap that can set them up for success.
Example: A client whose goal is to “be happier” might not know where or how to even get started, causing them to feel stuck. Helping them set smaller goals, like going for a daily walk or going out with friends once a week, gives them better focus and clarity.
Progress feels too slow or unclear
Clients can lose momentum if they think it’s taking too long to reach their goals or they’re not seeing the results they want quickly enough. Frustration and discouragement in these situations can make it difficult to maintain motivation.
Reframing what progress looks like can give clients a more helpful and encouraging perspective. Instead of focusing on the overall goal or fast results, point out and celebrate those little moments of progress they may not be aware of.
Example: A client feels frustrated that they’ve only been able to pay off a little debt so far, when their overall goal is to improve their finances and get out of debt completely. Celebrating milestones they reach along the way, like paying off a certain amount or paying off one credit card, can help them see that they really are making progress.
Self-doubt creeps in between sessions
It’s easy enough for clients to feel encouraged during personal coaching sessions while you’re around to motivate them. But some clients start second-guessing themselves when they’re on their own between sessions. This self-doubt can put a damper on their motivation.
Using reflection and accountability can help clients learn to trust themselves and build internal resilience. Reflection involves having clients explore their thoughts and feelings, whereas accountability encourages them to accept responsibility for their decisions and behaviors.
Example: A client commits to working on their goal during a session but starts doubting their abilities or fearing that they’ll fail once they’re alone. Having the client examine why they feel this way and asking them to check in regularly can help them feel encouraged.
Life distractions pull them away from focus
No matter how much motivation a client has, life events can interrupt their momentum. Everyday stress or a major stressful event can cause them to lose focus, as can keeping up with a busy schedule or facing emotional triggers.
Compassion is the way to help clients navigate these challenges. Supporting clients through these situations without any urgency or pushing may help them regain momentum all on their own.
Example: A health and wellness client gets too caught up in their hectic schedule to focus on working toward their exercise goals. Rather than pushing them to stick with it no matter what, show understanding that life sometimes gets in the way of what we want and provide some 10-minute yoga sequences that they can do any time.
Coaching mindset shifts that keep clients engaged
Having clients lose momentum can be frustrating for life coaches. You want your clients to succeed, but keeping them motivated might be easier said than done. But the right coaching mindset can give you a powerful way to encourage clients to keep working on their goals.
Motivation is rooted in values, not pressure
True motivation happens when thoughts, values, and goals are all aligned — not when there’s pressure to achieve results. Having meaningful milestones and clear goals to work on helps keep clients engaged, even when they’re experiencing difficulty.
Coaching is about reflection, not pushing
New coaches might be tempted to push clients, especially when they seem to be losing motivation. Or they might feel the need to “rescue” clients who are feeling overwhelmed or mired in self-doubt.
But these tactics aren’t part of the coaching process, and they often backfire, making it even harder for clients to feel encouraged again and affecting the coaching relationship.
Instead, you can show clients the importance and effectiveness of reflection to help them find renewed motivation. Help them trust that thought-provoking, powerful questions and in-the-moment presence can give them the insights needed to focus on their goals (more on this later).
Consistency beats intensity
Waiting for the “perfect time” or trying to tackle a large goal all at once can cause clients’ motivation to drop quickly. Small, steady steps over time help build momentum as clients make progress toward their main goal.
Encouraging clients to do what they can with what they have helps them stay engaged, rather than become discouraged.
Progress isn’t always linear
Clients aren’t going to follow a straight path when meeting goals. In fact, personal growth usually doesn’t happen this way. Instead, it goes through ebbs and flows, with clients experiencing backslides or setbacks along the way. They’re also likely to have breakthroughs or hit plateaus throughout their coaching journey.
As a life coach, it’s important to accept that this is completely normal — and teach your clients to do the same.
Let the client define success
A client’s success may give you a bit of a confidence boost in your skills. But coaching is never about validating the coach’s skill or ego. Imposing your own definition of success might actually interfere with and derail a client’s authentic progress.
So give clients a chance to define what success means to them and what it looks like. Their path might look different from what you’d expect, but keep in mind that your client’s goals, values, and timing are what matter most.
Questions that reignite purpose and commitment
Asking clients the right questions can help restore their momentum, giving them renewed purpose and greater focus on their goals. These questions encourage clients to engage in the self-reflection needed for personal growth.
Why is this goal important to you right now?
This question encourages clients to clarify their present-moment values and focus on what truly matters to them right now. It also helps them understand how those values relate to what they’re trying to achieve and reestablish an emotional connection to their goal, motivating them to work toward it.
What would it mean to follow through on this?
Being able to visualize the outcome of reaching their goal can be a strong source of motivation for clients. This question helps them imagine that situation and think about why it matters.
It’s also a great way to tap into a client’s sense of purpose and long-term vision, reminding them of what they’re striving for and how it can have a positive impact on their well-being.
What’s one small step that feels doable today?
Clients struggling with self-doubt or feeling overwhelmed may benefit the most from this question, though it’s helpful for any client who’s lost motivation. It breaks action into bite-sized chunks that are easier to focus on.
This question also helps clients feel more confident in their ability to work on personal development. Being able to do just one small step today counts as progress, and progress builds momentum.
What’s standing in your way, and how can we work with that?
The first part of this question acknowledges that there’s some resistance going on — without judging clients for it. It can encourage them to open up about why they’re having a hard time focusing on their goal, allowing them to identify the exact cause, such as life distractions or slow progress.
The second part invites clients to work together with you to come up with creative ways to solve their challenges. This collaborative approach, along with your guidance and the insights they gain from reflection, can lead to solutions that spark motivation.
What would support look like for you this week?
Clients who are dealing with a loss of momentum might feel alone and discouraged. Asking them to think about what kind of support would benefit them most helps remind them that they’re not alone.
This question is also a good way to help define accountability in a way that’s realistic and customized for each client, making them more likely to check in regularly and stay focused.
Coaching tools to support motivation between sessions
Questions during sessions help clients reflect on why they’re struggling to stay motivated and what they need to solve this issue. But they need ways to maintain momentum outside of sessions, such as:
Weekly goal-setting and check-ins
Clients don’t have to check off a long list of mini goals to stay focused between sessions. One small weekly goal is typically plenty. Help clients come up with these goals and then, at their next session, talk about what kind of progress they made and whether they ran into any challenges.
These check-ins aren’t just for accountability — they’re also a great reminder for clients that they’re making progress. Depending on your clients’ needs and preferences, you may want to offer a light midweek check-in by phone call or text.
Visual reminders of purpose
Small visual cues can help clients remember what they’re hoping to accomplish and why. Encourage them to make digital or physical reminders of their goal or purpose, such as sticky notes or digital vision boards. They can look at these cues if they feel their momentum start to waiver or keep them in plain sight as daily motivation.
Using visual reminders is also a good way to keep clients anchored if they’re dealing with life disruptions, like hectic schedules or stressful events.
Journaling prompts for reflection and momentum
Writing in a journal is an effective exercise that encourages clients to reflect on their thoughts, values, and experiences. It helps them build internal motivation and clarity, increasing self-awareness and putting them in a better position to keep their momentum going.
They can journal about wins, obstacles, or growth to see how far they’ve come and what they’ve accomplished. A few simple prompts you may want to give clients to support motivation and self-reflection include:
- How did I feel today, and why?
- What’s something I’m looking forward to this week?
- What challenged me today, and what did that experience teach me?
- What are three things that went well for me today (or this week)?
- What’s a small win I can accomplish today (or tomorrow)?
- How have I grown in the past month?
Progress tracking sheets or self-assessments
Having a tangible way to keep track of progress can increase clients’ self-confidence and help them maintain direction. You don’t need an elaborate way to do this. Keep it simple with a 1-10 rating scale or a reflection log. These self-assessments and tracking sheets give clients a practical way to see how much progress they’ve been making.
Help clients move forward with purpose and confidence
Maintaining motivation is something that every client and every coach will face at some point. There’s no definite way to prevent it from happening. But these effective coaching tools and mindset shifts can help you show up for your clients with calmness, clarity, and connection.
Looking for more ways to help your clients stay engaged? The Jay Shetty Certification School program teaches coaches how to use proven frameworks, tools, and presence to help clients make meaningful changes in their lives.
Stay motivated while helping clients maintain their own momentum. Join the Jay Shetty program today.
