Cathy Liska In the previous blog an old tale highlighted how perceptions can limit and how changes in circumstances and completely change perceptions. If a perception is limiting a client, a coach partners with them to create awareness, reflect, and make choices. The questions coaches ask open the exploration of perceptions and how those perceptions influence choices. 
A coach will ask a client about their perceptions.
- How did you come to this perception?
- How is this perception serving you?
- How might this perception get in the way?
- How long do you want to hold onto this perception?
- What is a different way of looking at it?
- Given that other people have different perceptions, what do you want to consider?
- What is a different possibility for you?
A coach will ask about limitations or barriers:
- What is stopping you from going where you want to go?
- What else might be in the way?
- What are different possible perceptions?
- Where do you want to go?
- How will you move forward?
Coaching includes challenging thinking, situations, and perceptions. Coaching is an opportunity to explore and expand thinking, create change in circumstances, and reframe perceptions.
What if a change in circumstances leads to a change in perceptions? A coach explores this with a client, What does that change in perception tell you? What if a perceived barrier is removed only to have the outcome of the removal become a barrier? A coach will share the observation and ask, What does that mean to you? Other possible questions include:
- What does that tell you?
- What do you learn about yourself from that awareness?
- How do you want to move forward with that?
- What do you want to do with it?
- What do you want to do about that?
- How will you use your insights?
