Frameworks Episode 25 Recap: Assessment: The Pursuit of Truth
Frameworks with Carl Hardwick | CoachRx Podcast Network
Welcome back to Frameworks.
This is a place for coaches who want more than just reps and sets, who want to build their craft on principles, not trends.
Today we’re talking about one of the most misunderstood parts of coaching: assessment.
Most coaches think assessment is about collecting data, testing performance, or showing expertise. But assessment isn’t about data, it’s about truth.
It’s how we see where someone truly is, physically, emotionally, and behaviorally, so we can meet them there.
In this episode, I share a framework for assessment that goes beyond tests and templates. We’ll talk about how to see the whole human, what to measure (and what not to), and how to turn assessment into connection and clarity.
Let’s get into it.
Assessment is not judgment, it’s awareness.
It’s how we strip away assumptions and see clearly.
When done well, assessment becomes one of the most powerful conversations a coach can have with a client.
Not because it tells us what’s wrong, but because it reveals what’s true.
Frameworks
1. Assess, Don’t Guess
Assessment begins with curiosity, not confidence.
Every client walks in carrying stories, habits, and history that shape how they move, eat, sleep, and live.
Your job is to uncover not assume.
Think of two categories:
Objective: measurable truths, body composition, movement capacity, work output
Subjective: felt truths, motivation, mindset, lifestyle rhythm, readiness to change
The best coaches balance both.
They use objective data to guide direction and subjective data to build connection.
You’re not measuring perfection, you’re measuring potential.
2. Simplicity Over Sophistication
More tests don’t make you a better coach.
Better observation does.
You don’t need ten gadgets, you need ten good questions.
In practice, that might look like:
Body: weight, body fat %, trends over time not judgment, just truth.
Move: squat, lunge, bend, push, pull, core simple, repeatable movement screens.
Work: one sustainable effort test to understand pacing, resilience, and mindset.
Great assessments are:
Simple: easy to explain, perform, and repeat.
Repeatable: consistent across time to show progress.
Actionable: leads directly into design and next steps.
If it doesn’t change how you coach tomorrow, it’s not worth measuring today.
3. Awareness Before Prescription
Data means nothing without context.
And context means nothing without connection.
After every assessment, connect the dots:
“Here’s what we saw.”
“Here’s what that means.”
“Here’s what we’ll do next.”
This turns numbers into narrative.
It builds buy-in and helps the client see their story clearly for the first time.
Awareness drives ownership.
When clients understand where they truly are, they take responsibility for where they’re going.
That’s when coaching becomes transformation.
Application
Here’s how to apply the Assessment Framework in your own coaching practice:
Start simple.
Choose 1–2 objective and 1 subjective measure in each domain (Body, Move, Work).
Example: InBody scan + basic movement screen + 10-min bike test + lifestyle questionnaire.Observe more than you measure.
Notice posture, breathing, and tone of voice. Those often reveal more than any metric.Close every assessment with conversation.
Explain results in plain language. Ask: “How does that feel to hear?”
Then connect it to the first actionable step.Reassess often enough to guide not obsess.
Progress tracking should build confidence, not anxiety.
Close
Assessment done right gives your client something few people ever experience: honest awareness.
It’s not about numbers, it’s about clarity.
It’s not about performance, it’s about potential.
And it’s not a one-time test, it’s an ongoing process of truth-seeking.
When you assess with purpose, you don’t just build better programs.
You build better people.
Listen to Episode 25 Now
▶️ Watch on YouTube
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📖 Catch up on past episodes + blog recaps
Have questions? DM Carl on Instagram @hardwickcarl
Frameworks is part of the CoachRx Podcast Network, your hub for principled, purpose-driven coaching conversations.
For more shows, visit: coachrx.app/podcast-network
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