What’s the Difference Between Coaching Authority and Credibility?
In the fitness industry, it’s easy to confuse authority with credibility. Authority is loud. It’s the coach with the hot takes, the flashy branding, the “my way or no way” messaging. Credibility, though? That’s quiet. It lives in the work you do with real athletes, day after day.
Here’s a story to illustrate.
Months ago, a coach made a sweeping statement online: coaches without kids have “no business” talking about time management. I pushed back—not to pick a fight, but to add nuance. Because empathy doesn’t require identical experience. You don’t have to be a parent to support parents, just like you don’t need to have run a marathon to coach someone toward one. What matters is curiosity, listening, and offering solutions without shame.
The response I got was defensive and dismissive—classic ego-protection mode. I moved on.
But later, that same coach asked one of my athletes: “Who is she, what’s her deal?”
Her reply was simple: “She’s my run coach.”
The only response he had? “Oh.”
That’s the lesson right there.
How Ego and Hot Takes Undermine Coaching Culture
No amount of posturing online can outweigh the reality of athletes who trust you. Credibility isn’t won in comment sections—it’s built in the trenches, through the quiet consistency of showing up for people’s goals, grief, and grit.
Authority thrives on hot takes, but ego-driven declarations rarely create impact. True credibility is about humility, curiosity, and service—not about winning arguments.
Why Misogyny and Gatekeeping Still Show Up in Fitness Spaces
Misogyny and gaslighting creep into these conversations in subtle ways. When women without kids are told their insight doesn’t count, when experience is only legitimized if it matches the dominant narrative, we reinforce gatekeeping instead of expanding perspective.
Credibility in coaching isn’t about “who has the right lived experience.” It’s about who can hold space, listen, and provide guidance without dismissing someone’s reality.
What Athletes Really Want From a Coach
Athletes aren’t looking for the coach with the sharpest clapbacks online. They want someone who:
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Shows up with empathy.
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Creates strategies that work for their life.
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Understands that time, energy, and resilience look different for everyone.
Authority might grab attention, but credibility builds trust.
How to Build Coaching Credibility Without Posturing
For coaches:
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Stop chasing hot takes. They create noise, not impact.
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Lead with curiosity, not ego. You don’t have to live every experience to coach with empathy.
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Remember where credibility lives. It’s not in who validates you online. It’s in the athletes who keep showing up because of you.
For athletes:
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Look beyond authority. A loud coach isn’t necessarily a credible one.
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Pay attention to consistency. Does your coach show up for you, or just for their own spotlight?
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Choose empathy over ego. The best coaching relationship is built on someone listening to your life, not dismissing it.
The Bigger Picture
The fitness world doesn’t need more coaches fighting for authority. It needs coaches building credibility by doing the steady, unglamorous work of supporting athletes. When the industry gets noisy, remember: credibility is earned, not performed.
If you’re an athlete looking for a coach, ask yourself: do you want someone with the loudest voice—or someone who shows up consistently for you?
If you’re a coach, reflect: are you building authority, or credibility?
This is exactly why I built my coaching programs—to go beyond surface-level advice and help athletes navigate real-life barriers with empathy, strategy, and sustainable progress.