How to Create an Effective Action Plan for Client Success: A Practical Guide for Coaches

Written by: Claudia Haller NBC-HWC

Creating an action plan for client success is more than just setting goals and tracking progress. It’s about crafting a personalized, practical roadmap that aligns with your client’s strengths, personality, and pace. When creating an action plan for your client, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds of detailed strategies. For the understanding of your client, it is crucial to keep it simple, relatable, and achievable.

1. Clarify the End Goal
Start by helping your client get crystal clear on their end goal. This isn’t just about setting a vague “I want to be healthier” type of goal. It’s about defining what health really means to them. Does it mean more energy? Better mental clarity? Less stress? How will achieving this goal feel to them? How would life be different?

Be intentional in asking your client exactly what this would look and feel for them. For example, it could be that your client has a big event coming up and wants to be able to feel comfortable in their formal attire on the dance floor and in photographs. It could also be that your client just wants to feel comfortable going to the grocery store without thinking twice about what to wear! Whatever it is, get specific. Clarifying the end goal is extremely helpful because it provides something definitive and tangible to work toward.
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If your client is struggling to come up with something to move towards, you can use the SMART goal framework to help them create a specific, measurable, and time-bound target. The clearer they can picture their success, the more motivated they’ll be.

2. Build on Their Strengths
Now, let’s get personal. One of the most effective things you can do as a coach is to dig into your client’s strengths. This isn’t just a “nice” thing to do, it’s scientifically backed. According to Coaching Psychology experts like Margaret Moore, Erika Jackson, and Bob Tschannen-Moran, tapping into a person’s strengths is essential for long-term success (Ground Zero in Lifestyle Coaching - Margaret Moore). So, ask: What part of their personality has helped them succeed in the past? Are they determined? Resilient? Creative?

When you build on your client’s natural abilities, they’ll feel more confident in their ability to stick with the plan. For example, if they’re naturally detail-oriented, they might thrive in tracking their progress daily. If they’re motivated by others, a support group could be key. Encouraging your clients to harness the gifts they have already been given will create a much more positive outlook on reaching their goals than simply focusing on the progress to be made. At the end of the day, your clients want to be known. It is your role to know them and support them exactly as they are today.

3. Break It Down into Small, Achievable Steps
Goals are great, but an action plan is all about the steps it takes to get there. Looking at the big-picture goal can be really daunting and intimidating for your clients. Help your client break their goal into small, bite-sized tasks. Make them so simple that it’s hard to fail. Start small, get the momentum going, and slowly increase the complexity as they begin to see success. 

For example, if your client wants to lose 20 pounds, the goal might seem overwhelming at first. Your client will ask, but how is that possible?! Your role is to brainstorm with the client and break the goal down into smaller steps such as meal planning for the week, getting in three 30-minute workouts, and practicing mindful eating. As we make the goals more manageable for our clients, they will feel increasingly more capable and motivated to accomplish them.

4. Add in Accountability and Support
An action plan is never complete without accountability. As a health coach, you are signed up to be your client’s accountability buddy! The primary tool for accountability is a series of check-ins; whether weekly or bi-weekly, these are a game changer for follow-through. Check-ins can be executed as a one-on-one meeting between you and your client or can be hosted by you in a group setting.

While personal coaching is the most effective form of accountability, modern technology can come in handy as a supplementary tool. We live in a world of instant gratification, so why not use technological innovation to your client’s advantage? Apps like Streaks or Habit Tracker can be incredibly motivating. When your clients check off their daily tasks and see their progress, they get that little burst of dopamine, which helps reinforce the new habits. It’s a simple but effective way to build momentum throughout the journey.

5. Be Flexible and Adjust When Needed
An action plan is a living, breathing thing. It’s not set in stone, and neither is your client’s success. Things will come up, life will throw curveballs, and that’s okay. Encourage your client to stay flexible and adjust as needed.

One of the most important parts of coaching is guiding your clients through setbacks. Remind them that growth doesn’t happen in a straight line. If something’s not working, it’s just feedback, not failure. Every client is different. Let them tweak their plan to fit what’s working for them.

6. Celebrate the Wins
Don’t skip over the celebrations. Every milestone, whether it’s sticking to a new habit for a week, hitting a workout target, or making a healthy meal choice, deserves recognition. Celebrating these small wins helps keep your client motivated and builds their confidence for the bigger ones.

Remember, the ultimate goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress. Celebrations do not have to be pushed off until your client meets their end goal, the process is just as worthy of praise! You and your client can and should celebrate each step they take toward their goal.

Let’s Recap!!
Creating an effective action plan isn’t about giving your clients a generic checklist, it’s about understanding who they are, what makes them spark, and guiding them to build a plan that fits their lifestyle and strengths. By leveraging modern tools, breaking down big goals into manageable steps, and offering continuous support, you can equip them to set themselves up for long-term success. 
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Action plans will never be perfect; their creation and execution are all about finding the approach that works for your client and staying committed to the process. Keep it simple, keep it personal, and keep it moving forward.

Are you a board-certified health coach looking for more resources to guide your coaching, more clients, or a community of professionals pursuing the same goals as you? 
If so, Virtual Health Coaches would love to welcome you into our community! VHC is a vibrant, private community of coaches who are board-certified (NBC-HWC) or in a board-approved training program. Our platform intends to connect health seekers with a professional coach who acts as a partner and a guide for the complex health change process. We believe that board-certified coaches can make all the difference in making it easy for people to achieve better health. To learn more about our network and request to join, check out our website here. 

Other interesting resources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10979731/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK487697/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/news/study-finds-wellness-coaching-benefits-last-over-time/mac-20431166