Understanding why successful coaches celebrate habits rather than outcomes will change the way you coach your clients for the better. As a coach, it’s tempting to focus on outcomes. Your client loses 10 kilos, their deadlift max improves by 25 kilos, or they finally fit into their favourite pair of jeans.
These milestones feel like the ultimate win, for your client and for you as their coach.
But here’s the truth. Successful, experienced coaches know that sustainable progress isn’t about the outcome itself. It’s about the habits that drive those outcomes.
Let me explain why.
You Have Control Over Habits, Not Results
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over my years of coaching is that results are not entirely within our control.
Think about it. Your client might stick to their diet and hit the gym three times a week, but factors like genetics, stress, hormones, sleep, and even random life events can influence how fast they see results.
Outcomes are the result of a complex web of variables, many of which are outside of your or your client’s control.
But habits? Habits are 100% within your client’s control.
When you focus on habits (i.e. the consistent actions your client takes day in and day out) you’re empowering them to own their journey. They’re no longer fixated on chasing a number or an end goal, instead, they’re building the foundation for lifelong health and fitness.
When your client commits to habits, they’re taking charge of the actions they actually can influence.
For example, choosing to walk for 30 minutes daily or preparing meals at home twice a week are small, manageable steps that are entirely in their control. These habits build confidence because your client knows they can deliver on these actions regardless of external circumstances. And that sense of control is empowering.
This mindset shift also reduces frustration. If your client measures their success solely by the number on the scale or how quickly they achieve a goal, they’re setting themselves up for disappointment.
On the other hand, if they measure success by their ability to stick to habits, they’re constantly winning. These victories reinforce positive behaviours, making it easier to stay consistent over the long term.
Habits Create Momentum
Celebrating habits rather than outcomes is a game-changer because it creates a positive feedback loop.
Let’s say your client commits to drinking 2L of water daily. When they hit that target, they feel accomplished, and that small win motivates them to tackle their next habit, like prepping their meals for the week or getting eight hours of sleep.
Each habit builds on the last, creating momentum that carries them forward. By celebrating these daily wins, you’re teaching your clients that progress isn’t just about big, flashy results. It’s about the small, consistent steps that lead to transformation.
Momentum is one of the most underrated aspects of habit formation.
It’s much easier to build on small successes than to try to generate energy from nothing. When a client starts their journey, they might feel overwhelmed by how far they have to go.
By focusing on habits, you’re helping them narrow their focus to the present, and what they can do today to move the needle forward.
One habit mastered leads to another, and before they know it, they’ve built a chain of positive behaviours.
This compounding effect is incredibly powerful. For example, a client who starts with the habit of drinking more water might notice they have fewer cravings for sugary drinks, which leads to healthier food choices overall.
Or someone who begins by walking daily might gradually build the confidence and stamina to tackle more intense workouts.
Habits create momentum that spills over into other areas of life, amplifying the impact of their efforts.
Habits Are Sustainable
Here’s another thing about outcomes: they’re temporary. Your client might hit their goal weight, but what happens after that? If they haven’t built sustainable habits, it’s easy to slip back into old patterns and undo all their hard work.
Habits, on the other hand, are sustainable by design. When your client learns to enjoy regular exercise, prioritise whole foods, and manage stress effectively, they’re not just chasing a one-time goal. They’re building a lifestyle that supports their well-being for the long haul. And as a coach, isn’t that what you’re really after?
Let’s consider a common scenario: a client who works tirelessly to lose weight for a wedding or vacation. They might hit their target, but if they achieve it through extreme measures, like crash dieting or overtraining, those behaviours are not sustainable.
The result? Once the event is over, they revert to old habits, and the weight creeps back.
Contrast that with a client who focuses on habits like mindful eating, daily movement, and stress management. Even if they reach their goal more slowly, they’re far more likely to maintain their progress because they’ve established a routine that’s realistic and enjoyable.
Habits don’t just help clients achieve their goals, they help them maintain results long term.
Celebrating Habits Boosts Confidence
When you celebrate habits, you’re reinforcing what your client is doing right, and that boosts their confidence. Instead of feeling defeated because the scale hasn’t budged or their bench press isn’t improving as quickly as they’d hoped, they feel proud of the consistent effort they’re putting in.
Confidence fuels consistency. When your client feels good about their actions, they’re more likely to stick with their habits. And when they stick with their habits, the results will come, even if it takes longer than they expected.
Confidence is also a critical factor in resilience. Every client will face setbacks at some point, whether it’s a holiday binge, a busy season at work, an injury or whatever else life throws at them. By celebrating habits, you’re giving them a toolkit to bounce back.
They’ll remember that they’ve succeeded before by focusing on what they can control, and that knowledge will help them regain their footing.
Moreover, celebrating habits teaches clients to detach their self-worth from their outcomes. Instead of feeling like a failure because they didn’t hit a specific target, they learn to value their effort and persistence. This mindset shift is transformative, not just in fitness but in every area of life.
How to Shift Your Focus as a Coach
So how can you, as a coach, start celebrating habits rather than outcomes? Here are some practical tips:
- Set Process-Based Goals: Instead of outcome-based goals like “lose 5 kilos,” help your client set process-based goals like “work out three times a week” or “eat vegetables with every meal.” These are actions they can control.
- Track Consistency: Use tools like habit trackers to monitor your client’s progress. Celebrate when they hit streaks or achieve milestones like completing 30 days of consistent hydration or 12 weeks of consistent strength training.
- Reframe Success: Teach your clients to view success as showing up and doing the work, not just reaching a specific number or metric. Remind them that progress happens in the day-to-day effort.
- Celebrate the Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate every habit they nail, no matter how small it seems. Did they prep their meals this week? Celebrate it. Did they get seven hours of sleep each night? That’s a win!
- Lead by Example: Share your own journey with habits. Let your clients know that even as a coach, you focus on what you can control and trust the process for the rest.
- Use Habit-Based Language: When discussing progress with your clients, emphasise the habits they’re building rather than the outcomes they’ve achieved. For example, instead of saying, “You lost 2 kilos,” say, “You’ve been consistent with your workouts and meal prep, and it’s paying off.”
- Teach the “Why” Behind Habits: Help your clients understand why specific habits matter. For instance, explain how strength training supports bone health or how hydration improves energy levels. When clients understand the benefits, they’re more likely to stay committed.
Final Thoughts On Why Successful Coaches Celebrate Habits Rather Than Outcomes
As coaches, our job isn’t just to help clients hit their goals. It’s to equip them with the tools and mindset to maintain a healthy lifestyle long after they stop working with us. When you celebrate habits over outcomes, you’re teaching your clients to focus on what truly matters: consistent action, self-discipline, and self-compassion.
Outcomes will come and go. Habits? They can last a lifetime. That’s why successful coaches celebrate habits, and why you should, too.
By embracing this approach, you’re not only helping your clients achieve their goals but also empowering them to build a foundation of resilience, confidence, and self-reliance. And that’s the hallmark of truly impactful coaching.
We have a lot of free content available in our content hub, if you want to learn more. If you want even more free information, you can follow us on Instagram, YouTube or listen to the podcast. You can always stay up to date with our latest content by subscribing to our newsletter.
Finally, if you want to learn how to coach nutrition, then consider our Nutrition Coach Certification course, and if you want to learn to get better at exercise program design, then consider our course on exercise program design. We do have other courses available too. If you don’t understand something, or you just need clarification, you can always reach out to us on Instagram or via email.
Paddy Farrell
Hey, I'm Paddy!
I am a coach who loves to help people master their health and fitness. I am a personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and I have a degree in Biochemistry and Biomolecular Science. I have been coaching people for over 10 years now.
When I grew up, you couldn't find great health and fitness information, and you still can't really. So my content aims to solve that!
I enjoy training in the gym, doing martial arts and hiking in the mountains (around Europe, mainly). I am also an avid reader of history, politics and science. When I am not in the mountains, exercising or reading, you will likely find me in a museum.