How to Coach Unmotivated Clients: 5 Strategies That Actually Work

Some clients show up to sessions but seem checked out. They say they want to change but don't take action. They go through the motions without real engagement.

Before labeling these clients as "unmotivated," consider: what if the problem isn't motivation, but something else entirely?

The 5 Strategies That Actually Work

Strategy 1: Get Curious About the Disconnect

When behavior doesn't match stated goals, there's information in that gap.

Ask: "Help me understand something. You say you want to lose weight, and yet you find yourself eating late at night. What do you think is going on there?" Why it works: Instead of assuming laziness or lack of commitment, you're exploring the actual barrier.

Strategy 2: Revisit the Goal

Sometimes the stated goal isn't the real goal—or it's someone else's goal entirely.

Ask: "Let's step back for a moment. This goal we've been working on—is this something YOU want, or something you feel you should want?" Ask: "If this goal disappeared, what would you actually miss? What would you gain?" Why it works: Motivation comes from intrinsic desire. If the goal isn't truly theirs, no technique will create lasting motivation.

Strategy 3: Scale Down the Ask

"Unmotivated" clients are often overwhelmed clients. The gap between where they are and where they want to be feels too large.

Ask: "What would be the smallest possible step you could take this week—so small it almost feels too easy?" Ask: "What's one tiny thing you could do that would take less than 5 minutes?" Why it works: Small wins build momentum and restore confidence.

Strategy 4: Explore the Cost of Staying the Same

Sometimes clients haven't fully connected with the cost of NOT changing.

Ask: "If nothing changes over the next year, where do you see yourself?" Ask: "What's the cost of staying exactly where you are?" Why it works: People move away from pain as much as they move toward pleasure. Sometimes the pain of staying stuck needs to become more vivid.

Strategy 5: Check Your Relationship

Sometimes low motivation signals something wrong in the coaching relationship—not with the client.

Ask yourself:

• •Am I pushing an agenda they haven't bought into?
• •Do they feel judged by me?
• •Are we working on what THEY actually care about?
• •Is the pace I'm setting overwhelming them?

Ask them: "I want to make sure our work together is actually serving you. What would make these sessions more useful?" Why it works: If clients don't feel safe or heard, they protect themselves through disengagement.

The Motivation Myth

Here's the truth: motivation isn't something you CREATE in clients. It's something you help them DISCOVER within themselves.

When you find yourself working harder than your client, that's a signal. Something is misaligned—and the answer isn't to push harder. The answer is to step back and explore what's really happening.

Reigniting Engagement

Sometimes a simple reset can make all the difference:

Try: "I want to try something different today. Forget everything we've been working on. If we were starting fresh, what would you most want to explore?" Try: "What would need to be true for you to feel genuinely excited about making changes?" Try: "What would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?"

Building Your Toolkit

Working with low-motivation clients requires patience, creativity, and the ability to stay curious when you feel frustrated. These are skills that develop through practice and experience.