Article Rundown

• Why good intentions aren’t enough
• Why you need the TRUTH
• Difference between hurt and harm
• Dangers of “nice-guy” coaching
• Personal experiences

Why “Good Intentions” Aren’t Enough

In today’s video, I want to address a topic that may be a bit controversial. It’s something I encounter daily in my consulting practice. One of the most common things I hear from clients who have suffered back injuries is that their pain resulted from poor guidance by well-intentioned coaches. This highlights a prevalent misconception in the health and fitness industry: the idea that being a “nice guy” or having good intentions automatically makes someone a competent coach or clinician. At the end of the day, whether your coach or clinician is “nice” doesn’t matter—what matters is whether they provide you with the right knowledge to recover and improve. Let me explain why.

Truth Telling: The Cornerstone of Effective Coaching

In health and fitness, truth-telling is not just important—it is essential. It’s what separates good coaching from bad coaching. If a clinician or coach briefly works on you after an injury and assures you that you’re good to go, telling you to return weekly for the next five weeks, that’s not necessarily helpful. Even if they seem like a “nice guy,” this approach is rarely effective. Just because a coach is polite and tells you what you want to hear doesn’t mean they’re giving you the right advice to actually improve. Being kind doesn’t alleviate pain or enhance performance.

Now, I’m not suggesting that clinicians should be rude or dismissive. However, some clients need a firm, honest conversation about what they need to do to become pain-free and improve. The key is being able to communicate the truth, even when it’s difficult. While the truth can be uncomfortable, it’s far more helpful than offering empty reassurances.

I recall an interview with Dr. McGill, in which he stated, “My job is to tell you the truth, not to tell you what you want to hear.” Offering false empathy or avoiding the truth may spare feelings in the short term, but it can cause long-term harm. Unfortunately, in recent years, we’ve seen a rise in prioritizing feelings over facts. This approach may temporarily shield someone from discomfort, but it ultimately does more harm than good.

The Difference Between Hurt and Harm

First, we need to differentiate between hurt and harm. For example, a root canal is painful, but it’s a necessary procedure for those with an abscessed tooth. I remember my first root canal—it was excruciating. However, if the dentist hadn’t performed the procedure, my health would have deteriorated significantly. The discomfort I experienced during the procedure was temporary, but it prevented long-term harm to my health.

The same principle applies to coaching and rehabilitation. If a clinician avoids telling you the truth about the severity of your injury because they don’t want to hurt your feelings, they’re not doing you any favors. You may not want to hear that you need to make significant changes, but facing that reality head-on is better. Just like the root canal, temporary discomfort may be necessary to avoid more considerable harm in the future.

The Dangers of “Nice Guy” Coaching

Over the past decade, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients, many of whom were let down by previous coaches. One common type of coach is the kind who wants to be liked. These coaches avoid confronting the hard truths, even when a client’s situation requires it. They don’t want to upset the client, so they offer assurances that everything will be fine. While this approach comes from a place of good intentions, it can ultimately do more harm than good.

Some clients end up with such severe back pain that they’re no longer able to lift weights at all. What could have been a temporary setback—a year off from lifting—becomes a permanent limitation. This is a harsh reality, but it doesn’t make it any less accurate. In some cases, coaches who shy away from the truth may not be qualified to help the client in the first place. Instead of referring the client to someone more suited to their needs, they offer comforting but ultimately unhelpful advice, leaving the client in a worse position.

Personal Experiences 

At my clinic at 1302 Eastport Road, Jacksonville, FL, I often hear stories like this: “This chiropractor/PT/Dr is such a good guy, but he told me I was fine. Brian, please tell me I’m going to be fine.” The clinician has told these clients that they’re okay and must take it easy for a while or keep coming for stretch therapy. However, I have to give them the harsh truth when they come to me. After assessing their condition, I explain that they have multiple levels of ligament and facet damage, and it will take at least a year—possibly longer—to recover. I tell them I can’t guarantee they’ll ever return to lifting, but I do believe they can lead a pain-free life.

Hearing this may be uncomfortable at the moment, but it’s reality. While it might hurt their feelings initially, it’s far more beneficial in the long run than the alternative: telling them they’re fine and allowing their condition to worsen. At the end of the day, they have to ask themselves: “Would I rather be told the truth now, even if it stings a little, or would I prefer to ignore the reality and suffer long-term consequences?”

Conclusion 

In conclusion, intent does not always matter when being an effective clinician or coach. What matters is whether you find someone who will take the time to understand your goals/ pain, identify what exacerbates or alleviates it, and then provide you with an honest, accurate assessment. Seek professionals willing to tell you the truth—not just what you want to hear.

I’ve worked with countless clients who came to me after receiving reassuring but ultimately misguided advice from other clinicians. They were told to “take it easy” or “back off a little,” leading to further injury. When they finally sought my help, I had to deliver the hard truth about their condition. While it wasn’t easy to hear, it was what they needed to understand to make real progress.

Ultimately, facing the truth—though sometimes uncomfortable—is the key to a better, healthier future. Without it, the alternative is a future of further harm.

BRIAN DOES ONLINE AND IN-PERSON COACHING!

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