There’s a quiet frustration among many fitness and wellbeing business owners. They’ve trained, they’ve invested, they’ve worked with clients, and yet they still don’t feel ready to call themselves the expert. It’s not that they don’t know enough. It’s that they don’t feel enough.
This is the confidence gap – the space between what you know and how you show up.
It often looks like waiting. Waiting until you’ve done another course before raising your prices. Waiting until you’ve got a few more testimonials before you pitch to that local networking group. Waiting until you feel “ready” to post on social media as the voice of authority. But waiting keeps you invisible. Confidence doesn’t appear magically one day. It grows when you act, even when the doubts are still whispering.
Here’s the hard truth: your clients already see you as the expert. They don’t spend time scrolling Instagram comparing you with others in your field. They’re focused on themselves – their pain, their goals, their challenges. What they want to know is simple: can you help me? If the answer is yes, then you’re the expert in their eyes. The only person not convinced is you.
Mindset is the bridge. Confidence isn’t about erasing self-doubt. It’s about taking action despite it. Like building strength in the gym, you build confidence by repetition. Every time you stand tall in your introduction, every time you post advice online, every time you lead a class with conviction, you strengthen that muscle.
Practical strategies can help. Start with an evidence list – a simple record of the results you’ve helped clients achieve, the breakthroughs you’ve witnessed, the times you’ve been thanked for making a difference. On days when imposter syndrome strikes, that list becomes proof. Pair it with micro-actions. Share one small insight daily. Introduce yourself with clarity instead of hesitation. Try leading a short workshop or writing a blog. Each step reinforces you as the expert.
And when you make mistakes, reframe them. Experts aren’t people who never get it wrong. They’re people who keep learning. Every mistake adds depth to your understanding and gives you more to share with the next client.
Here in the UK, many of us were raised to believe confidence equals arrogance. We avoid standing out in case we look like we’re “getting above our station.” But there’s a clear distinction between showing off and showing up. Showing off says, “I’m better than you.” Showing up says, “I can help you.” And clients want you to show up.
So the question becomes: what one action could you take today that would close the confidence gap? Maybe it’s sending that email, recording that video, or saying your prices without apology. Take that step. Then repeat it tomorrow. Over time, you’ll realise the gap was never as wide as you thought.
If you’d like help closing your confidence gap, email me philippa@holdmyhandcoaching.com and let’s explore how 1:1 coaching could support you.
Until next time,
Best wishes
Philippa x