Asking Questions and Client Responses
In addition to asking effective questions, coaches need to understand how to ask questions and how to manage their client’s responses. The aim of asking questions is to help clients to explore and reflect upon issues, to take ownership of action and to support their performance improvement and self development.
Being able to ask effective coaching questions is a core skill of an effective coach. The following checklist summarises how to ask great questions.
Checklist for asking great questions
Are your questions short, simple and clear? | · Long, complex questions are difficult to understand so keep them concise |
Do your questions contain multiple questions? | · If you ask more than one question at a time, clients get confused about which to answer first, so stick to just one at a time |
Are your questions leading questions? | · Avoid inferring or implying choices and suggestions when framing questions |
Are your questions open? | · Avoid questions that elicit a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response |
Do your questions reflect your client’s language? | · Listen carefully to the language your client uses. Use their preferred language and metaphors rather than your own |
Do you pose the question and wait for a response? | · Ask and await a response; do not interrupt or fill momentary silences |
Do you listen to the response? | · Actively listen and encourage clients using non verbal fill-ins and gestures to encourage full responses |
Do you ask a follow on question linked to the client’s response? | · Compose supplementary questions that build on the client’s response so the coaching dialogue flows |
Do you periodically paraphrase or summarise? | · Check your understanding and review where you are by playing back key points to clients |
Coaches often develop their own database of great coaching questions.
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