It’s an art to know how ask powerful questions.
You know your questions are landing when you hear “that’s a great question!” Or, when your coaching client’s answer reveals something to them.
They unlock a door, opens a window and lights a path.
The right inquiry can raise your client’s self awareness and zoom them past obstacles. And follow up questions, at the right time, deepen the conversation and revelation.
The best questions come from a place of presence and genuine curiosity. They won’t come to mind if you’re trying to manipulate your client or be the smartest person in the room.
You can’t form pithy questions if you’re in performance mode. You have to be connected to the human being you’re coaching.
I’m about to share 8 tried and true questions that you can ask when the time is right. And I’d love to know other questions you rely on.
Powerful Question #1 is What do you want?
This question isn’t usually one where the answer is automatic. Your client might need a few seconds or even a minute to speak from their heart.
Once they do answer, it helps to ask a few probing questions to get beneath their first answer.
What do YOU want? Are you in touch with that?
Sometimes the answer is something you’re yearning for, somewhat desperate for. And sometimes the answer comes more from the core of your highest self.
Powerful Question #2 is What’s holding you back?
People generally do have a quick sense of this. And yet it’s still a valuable question because often they’ve been in denial about it. It is some way that they’ve been sabotaging their journey—their success.
There’s no shame there. Everyone holds themselves back from something sometime. It’s human. The question could raise their courage to move beyond some old trap.
What’s holding YOU back from what you want just now?
Powerful Question #3 is What is it costing you to keep holding back?
There are costs to actions, inactions, habitual thoughts and patterns. To ask someone this causes them to look at themselves from a place of self responsibility.
Powerful Question #4 is How would you like to show up differently?
Presumably you’re talking to them about a circumstance or a situation they want to overcome and this question helps them realize, I’m at choice here!
I was once preparing for speaking at a big event for coaches and I was just so nervous. I called my husband for support and he has asked me: How do you want to show up, Rhonda?
That took me out of my anxiety and back into my personal power, believing in myself. I was able to answer in detail and then step into that reality.
If you ask your client this question, be sure you help them answer in specific detail. Help them see themselves as what they say.
Powerful Question #5 is How has your perspective changed?
This is an invitation to pick themselves up out of their current situation and get a 30,000 foot view—look at something from another person’s point of view or from their highest self point of view.
Powerful Question #6 is What is the most meaningful action you could take right now?
When your client is stuck, it’s often because they are afraid to take an action. There’s some old belief in there keeping them from doing it. Most of the time the belief is way off from the truth. Action is the cure for stuckness.
Powerful Question #7 is What new habits will you put in place to help you integrate?
Habits are makers and breakers of success.
Everyone has some bad habits and some good habits. Putting a new healthy habit in place is the stuff of breakthroughs.
Powerful Question #8 is What new skills or support systems do you need now?
There is no significant growth or transformation that happens without support and a learning process.
Wherever you are right now in your coaching business, you are developing yourself in some way. You’re growing skills:
- Coaching skills, such as learning to be fully present, ask powerful questions, listen on many levels, challenge your clients.
- Business skills to keep your business operating smoothly with smart systems.
- Marketing skills, like learning how to write for response, creating compelling content, crafting social posts that get traction
- Enrollment skills so you get better and better at helping your ideal clients to ‘yes’.
- Greater self awareness, learning to manage your states of being and shift your mindset
And there’s nothing more powerful that seeking help to move through the learning curves. And I would love to help you!
*****
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Enjoy asking your clients and yourself these questions!