Powerful Coaching Questions
Written by Lizzie Moyle
Asking great questions is key to effective coaching. Coaching isn’t telling individuals what to do – rather it’s supporting them to arrive at their own answers, by asking the right question at the right time.
There are some questions, of course, that are best avoided - for example, asking ‘why’ questions (these can be overwhelming and confronting, and inhibit the coachee’s ability to explore and access options). Likewise, asking closed questions limits the discovery process.
Direct communication requires focussed and clear questioning – we must avoid asking too many questions too quickly or in a long-winded way. It is important to give the coachee time to process what is being asked. Remember to pause and LISTEN.
It’s a good idea to build up a bank of powerful questions for your coaching practice. We have included a list below to get you started. Try them out and see what works for you, adding your own as you go.
Establish Focus/Identify the ISSUE
What would you like to get from this conversation?
What is it you would like to discuss?
What feels most urgent for you now?
Of all the issues, which one is your top priority?
What is the best use of our time together?
What is the subject matter or issue you want to work on? What is the aim of this discussion?
Where do you feel stuck?
What would need to happen for you to walk away from here feeling that this was time well spent?
What key challenges are you facing at the moment?
Can we do that in the time available? Will that be of real value to you?
Identify the GOAL
What would you like to achieve?
What are your goals?
How much personal control or influence do you have over your goal? What about this is an issue to you? What in it affects you personally?If you resolved it, what would be happening? What would be different?
What would achieving this give you? And what would that give you? (Repeat) In the long term what is your goal in relation to this issue?
Is that positive, challenging, attainable?
How are you measuring your success? How will you know you are being successful?What will success look like?
Define the current REALITY
What is the present situation in more detail?
What and how much is your concern about it?
Who is affected by this issue, other than you? How could they see it? What have you done so far?
What results did that produce?
What obstacles have you overcome on the way? What has stopped you doing more?
What are you assuming that stops you solving this?
What personal resistances do you have for taking action?
What resources do you already have? Skill, time, money, enthusiasm etc. What’s missing? What have you got that you haven’t used?
What other resources will you need? What support do you need?
What is happening at the moment?
What effect does this have? What other factors are relevant? Who else is relevant?
What is their perception of the situation? What have you tried so far?
Explore Possibilities/OPTIONS
What outcome do you want?
What is the best thing that could happen?
If you knew you wouldn’t fail, what would you do?
What have you observed that has worked for others?
What are all the different ways you can approach this issue? What else could you do? And what else?
Ask questions such as “What if …”
you had unlimited time?
you had unlimited money?
you were the boss?
you could start again with a clean sheet?
you asked your wise old friend, what would they say?
you were world class at this, what would you do?
What would you hate to do? Write everything down. Reserve judgement
Ask “Would you like another suggestion?”, only after they’ve exhausted all options. (Be prepared for “No”!) What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Which would give the best result?
Which of these solutions appeals to you most? Which would give you the most satisfaction?
What could you do to change that?
What alternatives are there to the approach? Who might be able to help?
Would you like suggestions from me? What options do you like the best?
What are the benefits and pitfalls of these options? Would you like to choose an action to act upon?
Plan the Action/WAY FORWARD
Of all the options, what’s most compelling?
What do you need to do first?
Who do you need to talk to?
How will these actions contribute to achieving your goal?
Which option(s) do you choose?
Will this address your goal? Does it solve the issue? To what extent? What are your criteria for measuring success?
When precisely are you going to start and finish each action step?
What obstacles do you need to overcome to achieve your result? What will be your excuse if you don’t achieve it?
What personal resistance do you have in taking this action? Who else needs to know about your plans?
What might prevent you from succeeding?
What’s missing?
What resources do you need?
What are the roadblocks you expect or know about?
What support do you need, from whom and when? How will you get that support?
What commitment on a 1-10 scale do you have to taking the agreed action? What prevents this from being a 10?
What could you do to raise your commitment to a 9 or a 10? Have you got what you needed from this session?
What are the next steps?
Precisely when will you take them?
What might get in the way? What support do you need? How and when will you enlist that support?
RECAP
Tell me what you are going to do and by when?
What are you taking away from this conversation?
What will you have achieved by our next meeting?