Élevé Coaching: Structuring Your Client Relationship and Goal-Setting Process

1. Frame the Relationship with the Prospect

Role-play the Approach and Refocus:

• Summary: I practiced a role-play with a colleague to introduce myself and shift the conversation

towards exploring the client’s needs. The key takeaway was the importance of detaching from the

outcome. This allowed me to stay relaxed and authentic, which led to a smoother, more natural

flow.

Create Your “Here’s Who I Am (What I Do)” Statement:

• Example for Élevé Coaching:

“Hi, I’m Lina, a fitness and lifestyle coach specializing in helping individuals build confidence and

sustainable habits. My goal is to support clients in achieving their wellness and life goals through a

structured yet motivating approach.”

Create Your “Here’s Why I Do It” (Mission) Statement:

• Example for Élevé Coaching:

“My mission is to empower individuals to live healthier, more fulfilling lives by developing habits

that reflect their values and aspirations. I tailor each plan to meet the unique goals and challenges of

my clients, ensuring a personal and effective approach.”

Create Your Refocus Statement:

• Example:

“Now that you know a little about me, I’d love to hear about what’s most important to you—your

goals, areas you’d like to grow in, or any challenges you’re currently facing.”2. Discover if It’s an Appropriate Fit

Role-play Identifying Client’s Needs:

• Summary: In this role-play, I focused on using open-ended questions to uncover the client’s

challenges, opportunities, and needs. By probing deeper into responses with questions like “How

else does this affect you?” I was able to uncover more meaningful insights.

Questions for Clients:

• Opportunities, Challenges, and Problems:

• “What are the biggest challenges you’re facing in your fitness and lifestyle journey?”

• “What’s one opportunity that could significantly improve your current situation?”

• Evidence:

• “How do you know this is an area you want to work on?”

• “Can you share specific examples where you’ve struggled or succeeded?”

• Impact:

• “What impact does this challenge have on your overall well-being?”

• “How does this affect other aspects of your life, like your work or relationships?”

• Additional Context:

• “How does this issue influence your daily life?”

• “What would improve if we addressed this?”

3. Convert Appropriate Prospects to Clients

Role-play Questioning Constraints and Closing:

• Summary: This role-play focused on transitioning from exploring goals to identifying constraints.

I asked, “What has prevented you from addressing this before?” and “What support would help you

overcome these obstacles?” I learned that clients appreciate acknowledgment of their efforts so far,

as well as a collaborative approach to overcoming challenges.Question Constraints:

• “What’s prevented you from addressing these challenges on your own?”

• “What would it mean for you to have support in achieving your goals?”

Create Summary Buy-In Statement:

• Example:

“Based on what we’ve discussed, I believe we can make significant progress on your goals. With a

structured plan and consistent support, we’ll tackle the challenges holding you back and help you

achieve the results you’re aiming for.”

Draft Coaching Agreement:

• Customize based on your specific needs using the template in Appendix C.

4. Summarize the Introductory Call Steps

1. Approach: Introduce yourself and your coaching philosophy.

2. Refocus: Transition to understanding the client’s needs and goals.

3. Opportunities: Explore the client’s challenges and aspirations.

4. Evidence: Gather concrete examples to support their challenges or goals.

5. Impact: Discuss how these issues affect their life and well-being.

6. Context: Explore broader implications of their goals and challenges.

7. Constraints: Identify barriers preventing progress.

8. Buy-In: Secure the client’s commitment to coaching.5. Better Understand the Client and Their Goals

Role-play Getting the Client’s Viewpoint on the Personal Professional Profile (PPP):

• Summary: I asked thoughtful questions to understand the client’s responses on their PPP form.

The key takeaway was that active listening is crucial to uncovering deeper motivations behind their

answers.

Role-play Defining Short and Intermediate Goals:

• Summary: I guided the client in setting actionable short-term and intermediate goals. Breaking

down long-term objectives into smaller, manageable steps helps clients feel more confident and less

overwhelmed.

Role-play Gaining Clarity Around Client Goals and Recognizing Shortcomings:

• Summary: This exercise involved asking reflective questions to help clients articulate their goals

and recognize areas for improvement. The key takeaway was that framing shortcomings as growth

opportunities fosters empowerment.

Rewrite Message for Clients Who Haven’t Submitted the PPP Form:

• “Hi [Client’s Name], I’d love to have the Personal Professional Profile by this evening so I can

review it before our session. This will help me better understand your goals and ensure we’re fully

prepared for our conversation.”

Role-play Handling a Client Who Hasn’t Submitted the PPP Form:

• Summary: In this role-play, I practiced addressing situations where clients hadn’t submitted their

forms. I used empathy while clearly setting expectations, which ensured a respectful and

constructive conversation.6. Highlight Historical Strengths and Weaknesses

Coach’s Language to Identify Barriers:

• “Can you recall a time when you faced a challenge but still pushed through? What helped you

then?” This helps clients reflect on their strengths and identify past barriers to success.

Connecting Categories for Improvement:

• “You’ve mentioned how a certain routine helped you stay motivated in the past. Let’s explore how

we can adapt that routine to fit your current lifestyle and goals.”

7. Assign Comfortable Stretch Tasks

Human Experience Goal:

• “Let’s set a task that challenges you, but is still manageable. For example, attending a social event

in your fitness community. This will help you balance personal and social connections while

stepping out of your comfort zone.”

Business Production Goal:

• “How about a task to grow your online presence, like creating a personal story post or offering a

free resource? This will stretch your visibility while staying aligned with your expertise.”

Coaching Relationship Goal:

• “For our next session, let’s focus on a personal barrier that’s limiting your growth. Write down any

frustrations or breakthroughs you’ve experienced recently—it’ll be an opportunity for us to refine

our work together.”8. Focus on Goals while Enhancing Life Integration

Lagging vs. Leading Indicators:

• Lagging Indicators: These are the measurable results (e.g., weight loss, muscle gain) that come

after taking action.

• Leading Indicators: These are proactive behaviors (e.g., workout consistency, nutrition tracking)

that lead to desired outcomes.

Role Play for Client’s Goals:

• “Let’s break your goal into measurable steps. If your goal is to build strength, we can track your

lifting progress each week. Over time, this leads to muscle growth, which is a lagging indicator of

your effort.”

Identify Obstacles:

• “What’s been stopping you from sticking to your routine? Are external factors, like work, or

internal ones, like motivation, at play?”

Life Integration:

• “How can we adjust your routine to fit your current lifestyle? Maybe we can reschedule meal prep

to better align with your work commitments or make workouts more flexible without compromising

progress.”9. Transition the Client to the MVP Stretch Task

End of Coaching Session for MVP Stretch Task:

• “For our next session, I’d like you to focus on an MVP stretch task: Let’s aim to increase your

current workout intensity by 10% next week. This will challenge you while ensuring it’s

manageable. We’ll check in on your progress during our next call.”

10. Connect the Client’s Mission to Their Life

MVP Stretch Task Review:

• “Now that we’ve completed your MVP stretch task, let’s reflect on what worked and what didn’t.

How did you feel about pushing yourself to that next level? Was anything blocking your

consistency?”

Reignite Positive Energy:

• “I can see you’ve been struggling lately, and that’s okay—it happens to all of us. But remember

how much progress you’ve made so far. Let’s use that positive momentum to get back on track.

What small action can you take today to reignite that spark?”

11. Clarify the Client’s Remaining Action Strategy

Use of MVP Action Strategy:

• “Let’s break down your action plan using the MVP framework. I’ll guide you through each step,

ensuring you stay focused on what matters most. This will involve realigning your goals, tracking

progress, and adjusting as needed.”

By focusing on life integration, actionable tasks, and a clear coaching framework, Élevé Coaching

helps clients reach their goals sustainably, ensuring long-term success and fulfillment.

Lina König

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