The Different Types

Of Coaching Questions
Open Questions
Predominant type of question used in coaching

They ask for a descriptive answer and are non judgmental

Client feels unthreatened and can voice their ideas in confidence

Starting Open Questions
Who, What, How, When and Where

Tell me…

Describe to me…

→ Be careful with “why”

Closed Questions
Have you learned anything?

Do you have a problem solving strategy?

Are there barriers in the way, stopping you?

Are these the only choices available to you?

Has this session helped you?

Is that OK?

→ Avoid: Do, Have, Has, Is and Are

Leading Questions
= Questions that have the desired answer already embedded within them

Examples: 'Don’t you think that...?', 'Have you thought of...?',

or 'What about trying...?'

Leading questions have no place in your coaching toolkit

Questions That Follow Client’s Interest
Use them to demonstrate that you value and respect them

This makes it easier for the client to take risks and make new choices

Examples: 'Tell me more about…?‘ or 'You’ve mentioned a number of possible ways

forward. Tell me about the one you like the most?'
Questions That Clarify
Necessary when you are unsure of the context or your client's meaning

To coach effectively it’s important that you clearly understand the situation they
describe and talk about

Examples: 'I think this is what you are saying. Am I correct?' or 'What will that
achieve?'
Questions That Challenge Limiting Beliefs
Indicators of limiting belief: “I could never do that”, “I dont have the confidence to
make a big change”, “I don’t know what to do”

The right questions can challenge and expose these limiting beliefs

Examples:

“What is stopping you from setting up your business?”

“What beliefs do you need to adopt in order for you to do it?”

“How did your family view money as you were growing up?”
What If Questions
Suspend limiting belief for a while to allow the client to be more creative

Examples:

“What would you do if money was no object?”

“What, if you secretly knew the answer, would it be?”

“What would you do if this obstacle did not exist?”

“What would you do if you were performing at your best? “

“What would you do if you didn’t have to live with the consequences?”
Commitment Questions
Best to commit your client to taking action on their goals

Examples: 'What will you do?', 'When will you do it?', 'How will I know you’ve done
it?‘

Alternative: 'On a scale of 1-10 how strong is your intention to carry out the task,
how committed are you and how enthusiastic are you about taking action?'
Stretch Questions
Help the client make a leap in perception or understanding

Examples: 'What do you really want?', 'How will you know?', 'Where will this lead?',
'What is stopping you?', 'What is the truth?'

Alternative: 'Imagine you are on your deathbed, and looking back on your life –
what would you like to be remembering?
Enquiry Questions
There are no definitive answers to these questions

This also serves to lift the coaching relationship out of the weekly session and
implant it into your client’s everyday life

They are most powerful when discussing overarching goals or life visions