Have you ever had a client tell you:

“I’m ready to change.”

They want the result.

They’re excited about the goal.

You’ve talked about the steps.

And then…nothing happens.

It can be easy to assume they’re unmotivated, aren’t committed enough or simply aren’t following through.

But there may be another question worth asking:

Are they actually ready to make this particular change right now?

In this episode of FIT CHICKS Chat, Amanda explores the concept of readiness to change and why understanding where someone actually is can help us become much more effective coaches.

Because wanting an outcome and being ready for the process required to create it aren’t always the same thing.

A Simple Way to Explore Readiness to Change

One of the coaching tools Amanda shares in this episode is a simple question:

“On a scale of 1–10, how ready do you feel to make this change?”

A 1 might mean:

“I’m really not ready to make this change right now.”

While a 10 might mean:

“I’m completely ready. Let’s go.”

But the number itself isn’t the most important part.

It’s what you ask next.

If your client says she’s a 6, instead of immediately trying to get her to a 10, you could ask:

“Why a 6 and not a 3?”

That question can help uncover the reasons she already has for wanting to change.

Then ask:

“What would need to happen for that 6 to become a 7?”

Now you’re not trying to drag someone toward the finish line.

You’re helping her identify her next step.

Meet Your Client Where She’s At

This is one of the biggest lessons in the episode.

As coaches, we can often see what’s possible for someone.

We might see where we think she needs to go next.

But just because we can see the bigger picture doesn’t necessarily mean our client is ready to take every step toward it today.

Imagine a client tells you she wants to work out five days a week, but when you ask how ready she feels to actually do that, she says:

“Honestly? A 4.”

Instead of ignoring that information and creating a five-day plan, you might ask:

“What WOULD feel like an 8?”

Maybe her answer is:

“I could walk for 20 minutes twice this week.”

That’s where you start.

Not because you’re lowering her potential.

Not because you’re letting her off the hook.

But because you’re helping her create an action she genuinely believes she can follow through on.

And when she does, she begins creating evidence, confidence and self-trust.

Hold the bigger vision, but coach the next step.

Different Levels of Readiness May Need Different Coaching

Someone at a 3 may need curiosity and space to explore what’s making change difficult.

Someone at a 6 may genuinely want the change while also feeling hesitant or conflicted about what it will require.

Someone at a 9 may be ready to stop talking and start taking action.

That’s why there isn’t one “perfect” coaching approach that works for everyone.

Great coaching requires us to listen to the person sitting in front of us.

Readiness Is Not Worthiness

One of the most important distinctions in this episode is that a readiness score is information—not judgment.

Being at a 3 doesn’t make someone difficult or incapable of change.

Being at a 9 doesn’t make someone a “better” client.

Readiness can change as circumstances, confidence, priorities and beliefs change.

Our job as coaches isn’t to judge the number.

It’s to understand what that number can teach us about how to support the person in front of us.

5 Readiness-to-Change Questions to Try

The next time you’re talking with a client about a change she wants to make, try asking:

  1. On a scale of 1–10, how ready do you feel to make this change?
  2. Why did you choose that number and not a lower one?
  3. What’s making this change important to you right now?
  4. What might make this difficult?
  5. What would help you move one number higher on the scale?

And one additional question:

“What’s the smallest version of this change that you feel confident you could follow through on?”

These questions shift the conversation away from what someone should be doing and toward what she’s actually ready to do.

Try It On Yourself

You don’t have to be a coach to use this tool.

Think about one change you’ve been telling yourself you want to make.

Then ask:

“On a scale of 1–10, how ready am I actually to make this change?”

Be honest.

Then explore:

Why isn’t my number lower?

What’s motivating me?

What’s holding me back?

What would make this feel more doable?

What would move me up just ONE number?

You don’t have to start where you think you should be.

Start where you actually are.

And if learning how to have deeper conversations like these and help women create sustainable change is something you want to bring into your coaching, you can learn more about our Holistic Weight Loss Coach Certification starting October 5th here:

https://fitchicksacademy.com/hwlc

Listen to the full episode of FIT CHICKS Chat to learn how to use readiness to change to meet your clients where they’re at—and help them take the next step they’re actually ready for.