Give feedback on effort, not outcomes
Praising the process — consistency, strategy, problem-solving — builds resilience and a growth mindset; praising outcomes alone builds fragility.
Why this matters
How a coach gives feedback shapes how a client thinks about themselves and their ability to change. Research by Carol Dweck on growth mindset shows that praise directed at outcomes ("You're talented", "You lost 2kg — great!") inadvertently creates outcome dependency: when results disappear, so does confidence.
Feedback directed at effort and process ("You stayed consistent through a stressful week — that's real discipline", "You noticed what wasn't working and adjusted — that's exactly the skill you need") builds the belief that improvement is within the client's control, making them more resilient to setbacks.
In practice
Client: "I only went to the gym twice this week, not three times like I planned." Outcome-focused coach: "Okay, let's get back to three next week." Effort-focused coach: "Tell me about the two sessions you did make. What did you do to make those happen?" Client describes how they rearranged their schedule. Coach: "That kind of problem-solving is exactly what builds a lasting habit. What made the third session hard?" Now they're learning from both success and struggle.
Source: Dweck, C.S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.
Try it today
After your next client session, write down three things to praise. Replace any outcome-based praise with process-based praise (e.g., "You lost weight" → "You stayed consistent for four weeks straight — that's the foundation everything else builds on").
Make it a habit
When reviewing client progress, always ask "What did they do that led to this result?" before "What was the result?" Make effort visible before outcome.
Ready to put this into practice?
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