Cathy Liska Powerful questioning is an art. In coach training coaches learn how to formulate open, probing, and clarifying questions. Because a single word potentially changes the meaning and the direction of the conversation, coaches practice this technique extensively.
For example asking, “What would you do?” falls short of creating a commitment. Instead asking, “What will you do?” invites a client to be intentional in choosing their actions.
Coaches work hard to move past a normal tendency to explain questions because that explanation interferes with the client thinking and often boxes them in by specifying the direction for where their thinking goes.
In addition to learning how to formulate effective questions, a coach prepares with questions that are used often and with situation specific questions prepared for individual clients. Then, a coach is present to the client in the moment, flexes to them, and formulates powerful questions during the conversation.
Tips for powerful question include:
- Keeping it short and simple
- Ask open-ended questions
- Ask questions that focus forward
- Ask questions that are open to possibilities
- Ask questions using words that work well for the individual client
For coaches learning powerful questioning, coach training teaches to practice start the question with either ‘what’ or ‘how’ to keep it open and exploratory.
