77 Coaching Feedback Examples for Coaches (FREE copy-paste templates)

5 Types of Coaching Feedback at a Glance

Before we look at specific examples, let’s see the 5 types of feedback you can use with clients.

As an independent coach, your feedback and communication skills can make or break your client relationships.

When you give good feedback, clients can spot their blind spots, see their strengths, and make real changes. But poor feedback might leave them feeling confused or defensive.

I’ve created this guide with 77 practical coaching feedback examples you can use right away with your paying clients. I’ve even included copy/paste templates you can instantly use in your coaching business.

Structured vs. Naturalistic Coaching Feedback Examples

Coaching feedback generally falls into two main approaches: structured and naturalistic. Understanding both gives you flexibility to meet clients where they are.

Structured Coaching Examples

Structured coaching uses frameworks, assessments, and systematic approaches. This works well for analytical clients and situations requiring clear measurement.

Framework-based feedback:

“I see that you said no to giving that talk. You’ve told me before that family time and helping your clients are very important to you. Saying no to the talk matches with what’s important to you. But I noticed you seemed unsure when you told them no. What made this hard for you?”

Assessment-based examples:

“You’re really good at making plans and thinking ahead – that’s your superpower! This helps you create great plans for activities. But I’ve noticed that when things suddenly change, you sometimes have trouble going with the flow. Instead of changing your plan when needed, you want to stick with what you already decided.”

Milestone review examples:

“I see you wanted to get 10 new clients by June, but you got 6. That’s 60% of your goal. You seem upset about this, like you failed. But what if we look at those numbers as helpful information instead of failure? How could seeing it this way help you make better plans for July through September?”

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Research by Edgecumbe found that integrating structured feedback methods like 360 assessments with executive coaching leads to more targeted and effective developmental plans (Source: Edgecumbe).

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Naturalistic Coaching Examples

Naturalistic coaching flows from observation and intuition, responding to what emerges in the moment. This approach catches subtle patterns and emotional nuances that structured approaches might miss.

In-the-moment feedback:

“I noticed something change when we started talking about your prices. You sat up differently and started talking faster. What’s going on in your head right now?”

Learning opportunity examples:

“That tough client meeting yesterday can actually help you grow. You said you weren’t ready for how emotional they got. Instead of being hard on yourself about it, what can you learn about making people feel safe when they’re upset?”

Intuitive observation examples:

“When you were talking about that networking event, I got the feeling something didn’t quite feel right to you, even though it could be good for business. Does that sound about right?”

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Both approaches have their place in your coaching toolkit. You might use structured approaches when setting goals and naturalistic approaches when exploring emotions or resistance.

Positive Coaching Feedback Examples

Positive feedback does more than make clients feel good.

It helps them recognize their strengths and builds confidence for tackling challenges.

Recognition Examples

Recognizing specific actions helps clients understand exactly what they’re doing well. This reinforces effective behaviors and builds confidence.

1:

“I saw how you handled that tough talk with your business partner last week. You did your homework and asked smart questions. You got what you needed without making things awkward between you two.”

2:

“You’ve really come a long way at business mixers! Remember how nervous you used to get at these things? But last night, I watched you walk right up and chat with three people who might become customers. That’s huge progress!”

3:

“Your talk to those possible investors was super clear. I loved how you told a story about your business instead of just giving facts. It felt real and got people interested.”

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Progress Acknowledgment Examples

Acknowledging progress helps clients see how far they’ve come. This builds momentum and encourages continued effort.

1:

“You’ve been doing that morning routine we planned for the last three months. Looking at your notes, you’re getting way more done during your best working hours – about 40% more!”

2:

“I can see you’re much better at telling clients what you will and won’t do. Last week when that client asked for extra stuff that wasn’t part of the deal, you stood your ground while still being nice about it.”

3:

“You’ve really changed how you make choices. Before, you’d spend forever thinking about big business decisions. Now, with your new approach, you made that important change quickly but still thought it through properly.”

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Confidence-Building Examples

These examples specifically target building client confidence in areas where they may doubt themselves.

1:

“I’m impressed with how you dealt with that tough client. When they questioned your prices, you stayed cool and explained why you’re worth it without backing down or saying sorry.”

2:

“I notice your inner voice has gotten much more positive since we started working together. Today when things got hard, you immediately thought about what you’re good at instead of worrying about what might go wrong.”

3:

“The way you kept going after that certificate even when you hit some bumps shows you really don’t give up easily. That kind of stick-with-it attitude will really help you grow your business.”

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Jake Smolarek, a professional coach, notes that “feedback is one of the most crucial aspects of life coaching—or any form of coaching. It’s the foundation of success.” He emphasizes that constructive feedback provides a solid platform for growth and improvement (Source: Jake Smolarek).

Positive feedback works best when it’s specific, comes at the right time, and feels genuine. A simple “Great job!” doesn’t have the same impact as feedback that points out particular behaviors and their positive outcomes.

Constructive Coaching Feedback Examples

Constructive feedback identifies areas for growth without judgment or blame. It points out patterns that might be holding your client back, but does it in a way that invites curiosity rather than defensiveness.

Personal Growth Opportunity Examples

These examples highlight patterns that might be limiting your client’s growth, framed as opportunities rather than problems.

1:

“I’ve noticed something – whenever we talk about money in your business, you seem to change the subject or keep things really vague. Like today, when I asked about your profit goals, you started talking about marketing instead. I’m wondering – wouldn’t having a clearer picture of your actual numbers help you be more successful?”

2:

“I’ve been keeping track of our check-ins, and I notice you typically finish about 6 out of every 10 things you say you’ll do. This keeps happening over and over. Maybe this is telling us something about how you plan your work or manage your energy? What do you think is going on there?”

3:

“When you explained why that potential customer didn’t hire you, you talked only about things outside your control. I’m curious – what might you learn if you also looked at your side of that conversation? Thinking about your part might give you some helpful ideas for getting future customers.”

Skill Development Examples

These examples focus on specific skills your client can develop to achieve their goals.

1:

“I watched your client session recording. You asked a lot of yes/no questions that didn’t get people talking much. Like when you said ‘Was that difficult for you?’ instead of ‘How did that experience affect you?’ People couldn’t really open up and share the deeper stuff.”

2:

“Your social media posts show you really know your stuff, but there’s something missing. You talk a lot about what your coaching program includes (like ’12 sessions’ or ‘workbooks’) but not how it actually helps people. For example, your recent post listed all the parts of your program but didn’t share how clients’ lives get better after working with you.”

3:

“I noticed during your practice sales call that you spent most of the time talking about yourself and your methods. You talked for about 80% of the call and only spent 20% listening to what the potential client needed. What do you think would happen to your sales if you flipped that around and listened more than you talked?”

Behavioral Pattern Examples

These examples identify recurring behaviors that might be affecting your client’s results.

1:

“I’ve noticed whenever we talk about growing your business, you jump straight to listing all the problems. Like today, in the first five minutes, you already brought up not having enough time, too much competition, and tech issues. Have you thought about how always seeing the roadblocks first might be holding your business back?”

2:

“You’ve been 10-15 minutes late to our last three meetings. I’m wondering if you’re often late for other things too, and how that might affect what people think of you professionally and how you manage your time and energy.”

3:

“I’ve noticed that when clients give you tough feedback, you tend to defend yourself instead of getting curious about their view. Like last week, when you told me about that client who questioned how you do things, your first reaction was to explain why you were right instead of trying to understand their side of the story.”

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Research by SAGE Journals shows that the most common feedback type observed in coaching was praise/encouragement, seen in nineteen of the studies they reviewed. They also noted that general feedback was prevalent, highlighting a low level of specific information used by coaches (Source: SAGE Journals).

The key to effective constructive feedback is focusing on behaviors you can observe rather than making guesses about why your client does things. End with open questions that invite reflection rather than telling them what to do.

Personality-Tailored Coaching Feedback Examples

Different personality types respond to feedback in different ways.

When you adjust your approach to match your client’s personality, they’re more likely to hear and use your feedback in the future.

Analytical Personality Coaching Examples

Analytical clients love data, logic, and evidence. They respond well to objective observations and measurable outcomes.

Data-oriented feedback:

“I checked your numbers and saw you talked to 12 possible clients this month, but only 3 signed up with you. I noticed something interesting – all 3 people who hired you came from friends recommending you, not from you reaching out to strangers. What do you think this tells us about the best way for you to find new clients?”

Process evaluation examples:

“I see you have seven different steps new clients must go through before their first real session with you. While it’s good to be thorough, I wonder if all these steps might feel like too much paperwork and waiting for clients who just want to get started quickly.”

Logical framework examples:

“You’ve made a detailed picture of who your perfect client is – their age, income, job title, and what they care about. But I don’t see much about the actual problems they’re facing that would make them pick up the phone and call you. What specific everyday struggles would drive someone to need your help?”

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Expressive/Emotional Personality Coaching Examples

Expressive clients value connection, stories, and the emotional components of situations. They respond well to feedback that acknowledges feelings and vision.

Relationship-focused feedback:

“I love how excited you get when talking about your coaching dreams! But I noticed that this excitement sometimes makes you say ‘yes’ to too many things. Like how you took on three free clients this month while also starting your new program. That might be a bit much to handle all at once.”

Story-based examples:

“The stories you tell about your life on your podcast are great – people really connect with them. I think you could do better at turning those stories into useful tips that listeners can actually use. This might help turn some of them into paying clients.”

Vision-oriented examples:

“Wow, you’re really good at dreaming big for your coaching business! When you talked about where you want to be in five years, it was super inspiring. But I noticed you didn’t seem as excited when we talked about what to do next month. How can we help you connect your awesome big dreams to the small steps you need to take right now?”

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Reserved/Quiet Personality Coaching Examples

Reserved clients often process internally and may need space to reflect. They appreciate thoughtful, observation-based feedback delivered calmly.

Observation-based feedback:

“You’re really good at listening when talking with clients one-on-one. But in group settings, when you don’t speak up more often, people might think you’re not interested or involved.”

Written preparation examples:

“I can tell you put a lot of thought into preparing for our meetings. Have you thought about turning these good ideas into blog posts or social media content? This could help new clients find you while showing everyone how knowledgeable you are.”

Reflection-prompting examples:

“You told me you want to be known as an expert in your field, but you don’t like bragging about yourself. I’ve seen your client notes, and you have some really unique ways of coaching people. What’s holding you back from sharing these great ideas with more people?”

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By adapting your feedback style to your client’s personality, you increase the chance they’ll absorb and act on your observations.

This personalized approach makes your coaching more effective and valuable.

Situational Coaching Feedback Examples

Different coaching situations require different feedback approaches.

Coaching Feedback During Crisis or High-Pressure Situations

When clients face crises or high pressure, they need concise feedback that acknowledges the pressure without adding to it.

Personal setback response:

“I can see you’re going back and forth between solving problems and thinking the worst after losing your biggest client this week. Let’s stick to those two simple steps we talked about – they’ll help you stay on track and keep moving forward.”

Major decision crossroads:

“I notice you’re thinking about putting your savings into this business deal right after talking to those two very confident friends of yours. Before you decide, should we check if this fits with what you really want for your future?”

Deadline pressure examples:

“Your book is due in three weeks, but you’re still fixing and tweaking the beginning chapters instead of finishing the whole thing. Are you getting stuck trying to make everything perfect? Might it be better to change how you’re working so you can actually finish the book?”

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Coaching Feedback for Different Client Experience Levels

Your feedback approach should vary based on your client’s coaching experience and self-awareness level.

New coaching client examples:

“Hey, for someone just starting to work on themselves, you’re really good at noticing your feelings. I see you can quickly spot when you’re happy, sad, or angry, but sometimes you’re not sure what to do with those feelings. Let’s work on figuring out how to use what you notice about yourself to make helpful changes in your life.”

Experienced coaching client examples:

“Since you’ve been working with coaches for years now, you’re really good at figuring things out about yourself. But I notice you still have trouble actually doing the things you plan to do. How can we set up some regular check-ins that don’t feel too pushy but still help you get things done?”

Resistant client examples:

“I’ve noticed something: whenever we talk about ways you could improve, you often come up with reasons why you can’t change right now. For example, today when we talked about your struggles with managing time, you listed three outside things that are stopping you. I’m wondering – what does giving these reasons do for you? How does it help you?”

Niche-Specific Coaching Feedback Examples

Different coaching niches require specialized feedback approaches. Here are examples for ten popular coaching specialties.

1/ Executive & Leadership

Leadership coaches help clients enhance their effectiveness in leading others and navigating organizational complexities.

Performance enhancement:

“Your team thinks you’re great at seeing the big picture, but they sometimes get confused by how you explain things. For example, when you told everyone about the company changes, many people weren’t sure when things would happen or what they were supposed to do.”

Delegation feedback:

“You said you want to help your team grow and free up your time for planning. But I notice you’re still doing things like the monthly reports yourself instead of letting your team members handle them. Have you thought about how giving these tasks to your team could actually help them learn new skills?”

Leadership presence:

“During yesterday’s meeting, you seemed really confident until someone questioned your numbers. Then you kind of slumped and your voice changed. What was going through your mind when that happened?”

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2/ Career Transition

Career coaches help clients navigate professional changes, from advancement to complete career pivots.

Values alignment:

“I’ve noticed something when we talk about jobs. You get excited when we discuss jobs where you can be creative and make your own decisions. But you seem unhappy when we talk about jobs with lots of strict rules. Yet most jobs you’re applying for have very rigid structures. How well do these jobs match what actually makes you happy?”

Skills translation:

“You keep saying you don’t have the right skills for your target industry. But remember that big project you managed? The way you handled all those different people and kept everyone on the same page is exactly what companies in your target industry need.”

Interview preparation:

“During our practice interview, you talked about great things you’ve accomplished, but you didn’t take proper credit. You kept saying ‘we did this’ even when you were the one who led the project. This makes your achievements sound less impressive to potential employers.”

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3/ Business & Entrepreneurship

Business coaches help entrepreneurs and business owners optimize their operations, strategy, and growth.

Business model feedback:

“I noticed your basic package and your premium package are priced too close together. That’s probably why most people (80%) just buy the basic one. Customers don’t see enough extra value in the premium option to make it worth spending more money.”

Scaling conversation:

“Your business grew by 40% this year because customers love working directly with you. But whenever we talk about making your business bigger, you seem uncomfortable letting other people handle your customers. Are you holding back your company’s growth because you feel you need to be the main person customers talk to?”

Entrepreneurial mindset:

“I keep hearing you say things like ‘I hope’ or ‘I wish’ when talking about your business plans. What might change if you started saying ‘I plan’ or ‘I will’ instead? This small change in how you talk might make you feel more confident and change how you actually tackle problems.”

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4/ Health & Wellness

Health coaches help people create healthy habits that stick and make them feel better in body and mind.

Habit formation feedback:

“I see you want to meditate every day, but you’re trying to do 30 minutes right away and missed it four times this week. What if you just start with 2 minutes each day? That might be easier to fit in your day, and you can build up slowly once it becomes a regular thing.”

Holistic perspective:

“You’re doing great with your eating habits, but I notice you’re not getting enough sleep. Since poor sleep can make it harder for your body to use food properly, how do you think fixing your bedtime routine might help with your other health goals?”

Sustainable change:

“I’ve noticed you tend to give up completely when things aren’t perfect. Like when you missed one workout, you skipped the whole rest of the week. Has this ‘quit when it’s not perfect’ approach gotten in your way before when trying to get healthier?”

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5/ Finance

Financial coaches help you develop better thoughts about money and teach you practical ways to manage your cash.

Money mindset observation:

“I see you get tense when we talk about growing your money. You mentioned your parents lost a lot when the stock market went down years ago. Do you think that’s why you’re hesitant to invest your money now?”

Spending pattern feedback:

“Looking at where your money went last month, I noticed you often buy unplanned things on weekday evenings. Those ‘little’ purchases actually added up to $427 last month. Any idea why you might be spending money during those times?”

Financial goal alignment:

“You’ve told me financial freedom is super important to you, but you’re only saving 5% of your income. That’s not enough to reach that big goal. What makes it hard for you to save more, even though you say it matters so much?”

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6/ Mindset & Performance

Mindset coaches help you get out of your own way by changing how you think about yourself, so you can do better at things that matter to you.

Limiting belief identification:

“Hey, I noticed you kept saying ‘I’m not good at speaking in front of people’ when talking about your presentation. You said it three times! This seems to happen right before you start feeling worried about it. What if you changed how you talk about yourself with this? How might that help you prepare better and do a better job?”

Performance pressure feedback:

“During our practice of tough situations, I saw that you started breathing quick and shallow, and you hesitated more when answering. What’s going on in your head during those moments?”

Growth mindset development:

“When your coworker gave you that tough feedback, you jumped straight to thinking ‘This proves I’m not good enough’ instead of ‘This helps me improve.’ How might things change if you saw feedback more like useful information rather than someone judging you?”

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7/ Relationship & Marriage

Relationship coaches help clients improve communication and connection in their personal relationships.

Communication pattern feedback:

“I’ve been watching how you two talk to each other, and I keep seeing the same thing happen: when you bring up something that’s bothering you, your partner jumps straight to trying to fix it instead of just listening. Then you seem to shut down and stop talking. Do you guys notice yourselves doing this?”

Boundary establishment:

“You said you’re feeling annoyed about always being the one to host family get-togethers. But when we practiced saying no just now, you immediately said sorry and gave a bunch of reasons why. What makes it so hard for you to just say what you want without apologizing?”

Conflict resolution:

“I’ve noticed your arguments get heated really fast when either of you says things like ‘you always’ or ‘you never.’ How do you think your fights might go differently if you talked about specific things that happened recently instead?”

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8/ Life Coaching for Specific Demographics

These coaches help specific groups of people with their special challenges.

Parent coaching:

“I noticed when you put your kids to bed, you’re mostly checking off tasks – brush teeth, read story, lights out. What if instead, you saw bedtime as a chance to bond? How might that make bedtime better for everyone?”

Young professional:

“You keep saying you ‘should’ be doing this or that, especially when you see friends’ posts online. Do you think what people show on social media is really what their lives are like?”

Retirement transition:

“I can see you’re excited about not having to work anymore, but you seem unsure about what you’ll actually do with all that free time. How do you feel about changing from being ‘the working professional’ to whatever comes next?”

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9/ Mental Health & Mindfulness

These coaches help people understand themselves better and handle their feelings in healthier ways.

Stress response observation:

“I saw how you talked faster, moved your hands more, and mentioned feeling tense when you told me about that work problem. Do you usually notice these things happening in your body when you’re stressed?”

Present moment awareness:

“You said your mind was ‘too busy’ during our breathing exercise. Instead of thinking you’re bad at meditation because you have thoughts, what if just noticing those busy thoughts is actually part of getting better at this?”

Emotional regulation:

“You mentioned you try to ignore your anxiety or do something else when you feel it. What do you think might happen if you just sat with that anxious feeling instead of trying to push it away?”

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10/ AI & Technology Integration

These coaches help people use tech in a healthy way without burning out.

Digital boundaries feedback:

“You said you want more focus time, but I notice you answer every ping within minutes all day long. What if you tried some no-phone time blocks? How might that affect your creative work?”

AI tool integration:

“I see you’re trying to make AI do all your work instead of using it as a helper. Like when you get frustrated because the AI writer doesn’t sound exactly like you, rather than using what it wrote as a starting point and adding your own personal touch.”

Technology overwhelm:

“You’ve downloaded seven different productivity apps in just three months. Now you’re spending so much time managing all these apps that you don’t have time for your actual work. What if you used fewer apps? Do you think that would help you focus better?”

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Effective feedback in coaching serves multiple purposes. It not only creates self-awareness but also enables goal-setting, helps prioritize options, and tracks progress over time (Source: Joint The Collective).

Each coaching niche requires specific knowledge and feedback approaches.

The examples above provide starting points you can adapt to your particular client situations within these specialties.

How to Customize Coaching Feedback Examples for Your Practice

Now that you’ve seen examples across various coaching contexts, let’s see how to make them your own.

Creating Your Own Templates

Templates save time while ensuring your feedback maintains a helpful structure.

Here’s how to create them:

• Start with a consistent pattern: Observation → Impact → Question. This structure keeps feedback focused and encourages client reflection.

• Adapt language to match your personal style. The examples in this guide use direct, clear language, but you might prefer more formal or more conversational phrasing based on your coaching personality.

• Create templates for recurring situations. If you find yourself giving similar feedback to multiple clients, create a template you can quickly customize with specific details.

Personalization Factors to Consider

Effective customization requires considering several important factors:

Client preferences: Some clients prefer direct, straightforward feedback, while others need more supportive framing. Ask about feedback preferences during your intake process or first session.

Coaching relationship stage: New clients typically need more positive reinforcement as trust builds. Long-term clients often appreciate more direct constructive feedback.

Cultural considerations: Be mindful of cultural differences in how feedback is given and received. What works in one cultural context may feel inappropriate in another.

Client learning style: Visual learners might benefit from feedback that includes diagrams or written summaries. Auditory learners might prefer recorded feedback they can listen to repeatedly.

Feedback Communication Systems: Building Effective Delivery Channels

Now that you’ve customized feedback examples for your coaching practice, let’s establish systems for when and how to communicate these insights to maximize their impact.

Creating Your Feedback Rhythm

Successful coaches develop a balanced communication cadence that includes both planned touchpoints and spontaneous observations.

Dedicated feedback sessions create space for deeper exploration of patterns and progress. These conversations require preparation and typically last 30-60 minutes. Complement these with real-time feedback – brief observations shared during regular sessions when you notice something worth addressing immediately.

This combination of scheduled reviews and in-the-moment observations creates a regular feedback flow that supports continuous development rather than episodic evaluation.

Communication Channels and Formality

Your delivery channel impacts how clients receive your insights. Formal feedback typically involves written documentation and structured conversation. This works well for major milestones or when establishing baseline measurements.

Informal feedback happens through conversational observations without documentation.

This approach maintains momentum without overwhelming clients.

The key is matching your formality level to the situation’s importance and your client’s preference for receiving information.

Finding the Right Words

The language you choose when offering feedback influences its reception. Many coaches struggle with finding the balance between directness and sensitivity.

Avoid the feedback sandwich approach of hiding constructive points between compliments, which can confuse your message and undermine trust. Instead, focus on providing feedback that directly connects to your client’s goals. This context makes even challenging observations feel supportive rather than critical.

Vague feedback such as “You’re doing great with communication” leaves clients without clear direction. Always aim for specific feedback tied to observable behaviors.

Creating Forward Momentum

The most valuable observations lead directly to growth opportunities.

Actionable feedback provides clear direction while respecting client autonomy. This approach transforms even negative feedback into a springboard for development. When framed as information rather than judgment, limitations become simply data points for improvement.

The ultimate goal is establishing a feedback culture within your coaching relationship – a two-way exchange where insights flow freely in both directions.

This collaborative approach models the same open communication your clients can implement in their own teams and relationships. With these communication systems in place, you’re ready to implement the ready-to-use templates in the next section, knowing exactly when and how to deliver them for maximum impact.

Copy/Paste Coaching Feedback Templates Collection

The following templates provide ready-to-use frameworks for various coaching contexts. Simply fill in the brackets with your client’s specific information.

Universal Feedback Templates

General Coaching Feedback Template

“I’ve been noticing that you [what you’ve seen]… It seems to be causing [what happens because of it]… I’m wondering what you think about [question]…”

Example: “I’ve been noticing that you check your phone constantly during our dinner times. It seems to be causing our conversations to keep stopping and starting, and sometimes you miss what the kids are trying to tell you. I’m wondering what you think about trying a ‘phones-away’ rule during meals?”

Positive Feedback Template

“I’ve seen you [good thing they did] lately. You’re really good at [skill]. Have you thought about using this same approach with [new situation]?”

Example: “I’ve seen you fixing up your backyard garden lately. You’re really good at planning everything out and not rushing the process. Have you thought about using this same patient approach with your job search? Instead of applying to everything at once, maybe you could map it out step by step like you did with your garden beds.”

Constructive Feedback Template

“I keep seeing that you [what they do repeatedly]. When this happens, it usually leads to [what results]. What do you think is behind this? Does this help with what you said you want to achieve?”

Example: “I keep seeing that you put off your important work until right before deadlines. When this happens, it usually leads to you staying up late, feeling really stressed, and sometimes not doing your best work. What do you think makes you wait until the last minute? Does this help with what you said about wanting to feel more calm and in control of your schedule?”

Crisis Situation Feedback Template

“With this issue of [problem], I see you’re [how they’re handling it]. I think if you focus on [1-2 simple actions] right now, things will steady out. What help do you need to do these things?”

Example: “With this issue of feeling so stressed about money, I see you’re avoiding opening your bills and using your credit card a lot. I think if you focus on just writing down what you spend for one week and making a list of which bills need paying first right now, things will steady out. What help do you need to do these things?”

Personality-Specific Templates

Analytical Client Template

“I looked at your [data/information] from our recent [talks/meetings]. I noticed you’re [specific observation]. This probably means [simple conclusion]. Based on this, what ideas do you have to improve your [goal]?”

Example: “I looked at how you spend your work time last month. I noticed you’re spending most of your time (65%) serving current clients but very little time (only 10%) finding new clients. This might be why you’re not meeting your goal of getting 3 new clients each month. What ideas do you have to better balance your time?”

Expressive Client Template

“I’ve noticed you’re really good at [specific skill] when you handle [situation]. When you told me about [specific moment], I could tell it really made you feel [emotion] about your [goal/project]. Have you thought about trying a different approach to [challenge] to help you reach your goal of [specific outcome]?”

Example: “I’ve noticed you’re really good at telling stories when making your podcast. When you told me about getting your first big-name guest, I could tell how excited and confident it made you feel about your brand. Have you thought about trying a different approach to growing your audience to help you become known as an expert in your industry?”

Reserved Client Template

“I’ve noticed that when [specific situation happens], you usually [what you do], which seems to [result]. Thinking about why you do this might help you learn something about yourself. How do you think this relates to your goal of [specific goal]?”

Example: “I’ve noticed that when group discussions get lively, you usually get quiet and don’t speak up, which means people miss out on your good ideas. Thinking about why you do this might help you understand what makes you hesitate. How do you think this relates to your goal of becoming more visible as an expert in your field?”

Niche-Specific Templates

1/ Executive Coaching Template

“Your team thinks you’re really good at [specific quality], especially when you [specific action]. But there’s a gap between what you mean to do and what actually happens when it comes to [specific challenge]. What if you tried a different approach during [specific situation]? This could help you lead better while still being yourself.”

Example: “Your team thinks you’re really good at seeing the big picture, especially when you connect their daily work to the company’s goals. But there’s a gap when it comes to giving feedback – they say it’s sometimes confusing or comes too late. What if you tried a different approach during your weekly one-on-ones? This could help you lead better while still being yourself.”

2/ Career Transition Coaching Template

“I notice you perk up when we talk about jobs involving [specific elements]. You’re already great at [specific skills], which is exactly what they need in [target field], but you seem hesitant to highlight these strengths. How might telling your work story differently, focusing on these strengths, help you feel more confident applying for jobs in [target field]?”

Example: “I notice you perk up when we talk about jobs involving creative problem-solving and teamwork across departments. You’re already great at managing projects and communicating with different people, which is exactly what they need in product management, but you seem hesitant to highlight these strengths in your resume and interviews. How might telling your work story differently, focusing on these strengths, help you feel more confident applying for jobs at tech companies?”

3/ Business & Entrepreneurship Coaching Template

“Looking at your business numbers, I see [specific metric] has [specific impact] on your [business goal]. This seems to be happening because of how you handle [specific function]. What everyday changes could you make to better match your business vision of [client’s vision]?”

Example: “Looking at your business numbers, I see you’ve lost 15% more clients in the last three months, which is really affecting your steady income. This seems to be happening because of how you bring on new clients and set their expectations. What everyday changes could you make to better match your business vision of being a high-quality agency with long-term client relationships?”

4/ Health & Wellness Coaching Template

“I’ve been keeping an eye on your [health habit] and noticed it’s [gotten better/worse/stayed the same] over the last [time period]. I can see that when [something happens], you tend to [what you usually do], which makes it harder to reach your goal of [what you want]. What small change could you make that wouldn’t be too hard but would help you get closer to what you want?

Example: I’ve noticed you’re meditating more now – up from 2 to 5 mornings a week this month! But when work gets crazy busy, you stay up late to finish everything, which doesn’t help with your goal of having more energy. What small, doable change might help you feel more energized throughout your day?”

5/ Financial Coaching Template

“Looking at your money habits, I see you’re [specific money behavior], which doesn’t quite match up with your goal of [money goal]. I notice you seem [uncomfortable/nervous/excited] when we talk about [money topic], which might mean this touches on something important to you. How do you think fixing this specific habit could help you reach your money goals?

Example: Looking at your money habits, I see you’re investing whenever you remember to, which doesn’t match your goal of building income that comes in without working. I notice you look tense when we talk about how investments perform over many years, which might mean you’ve worried about money being unpredictable before. How do you think making your investing more regular could help you become financially independent in the next five years?”

6/ Mindset & Performance Coaching Template

“I’ve noticed that before you [do something important], you always [think or feel something specific]. This seems to [help/hurt] how well you do because it affects your [specific part of performance]. What could you say to yourself instead that would help you perform better while still feeling like “you”?

For example: I’ve noticed that before you give speeches, you always tell yourself you’re not naturally good at it. This hurts your performance because it makes you look and sound less confident during the first five minutes. What could you say to yourself instead that would help you perform better while still feeling authentic?”

7/ Relationship & Marriage Coaching Template

I see that when you two talk, especially about [topic], you tend to [what they do]. This usually leads to [what happens next]. What if you tried [new approach] instead of [what they currently do]?

Example: I notice when you talk with your partner, one of you brings up problems while the other jumps straight to fixing them, especially when talking about balancing work and home life. This often means feelings get ignored and the real issues don’t get solved. What if you both tried asking how the other person feels first, before trying to solve anything?

8/ Life Coaching Template

At this point in your life, I can see that [specific concern] is really affecting your choices. This brings both good things and challenges, especially with [life area]. How might looking at [specific challenge] differently help you create the life you want right now?

Example: Now that you’re thinking about changing careers, I see you’re worried about money but also really want more meaningful work. This creates both opportunities and challenges when you’re looking at job options. How might changing how you think about taking risks help you build the career life you really want?

9/ Mental Health & Mindfulness Coaching Template

I notice that when [stressful situation] happens, you become [more/less] aware of [your reaction]. This seems connected to your habit of [coping strategy], which probably helped you before. What might happen if you tried [new approach] instead of [current habit]?

Example: I notice that when work gets super busy, you stop noticing how tense your body is until you’re completely overwhelmed. This seems related to your habit of pushing through discomfort, which probably helped you succeed in school. What might happen if you took short breaks to check in with your body instead of ignoring what it’s telling you?

10/ AI & Technology Integration Coaching Template

The way you use [specific technology] shows a pattern of [specific habit]. This creates [result] for your [work/life/health]. How might changing your relationship with this technology better support your goal of [what they want]?

Example: I notice you check your email constantly throughout the day, even during times you set aside for focused work. This splits your attention and makes your workday about 90 minutes longer according to your time tracking. How might changing how you handle email help you create the work you want while working fewer hours?

TL;DR

When you give good feedback as a coach, you help your clients see what they’re doing well and where they can grow.

The examples (and templates) in this guide show you how to match your feedback to different clients and situations, so your words really hit home.

Start by trying just one or two of these examples in your next coaching session, and watch how your clients light up with new insights and ideas.

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