How should a coach set goals with a new client so the goals actually stick and get tracked?

Vague goals cannot be tracked

A goal like get healthier feels good but cannot be measured, so neither you nor the client can tell if it is working.

Goals that cannot be tracked tend to fade, taking the client's sense of progress with them.

Make goals concrete

Shape each goal into something specific enough to mark progress against, tied to what the client actually wants.

A concrete goal gives every session a direction and gives progress something to attach to.

Write goals down together

Record goals with the client so both of you share the same understanding of what you are working toward.

A written goal is one you can return to, unlike a spoken intention that drifts over time.

Revisit goals regularly

Check in on goals across sessions, update progress, and adjust them as the client grows.

Goals that get revisited stay alive, and tracked goals give the client the visible progress that keeps them engaged.