Examples of Coaching Questions

EXAMPLES OF COACHING QUESTIONS

GAINING UNDERSTANDING

 What happened?  How did you respond?

GOING DEEPER

 Can you tell me more?  Why do you think that is?  What do you think led you to conclude that?  What thoughts and feelings came up for you?

EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES

 What other explanations could there be for what you experienced?  How might others have interpreted that situation?

GAINING SELF-AWARENESS

 What are your values? How do they play a role in this situation?  What fears to you have about taking that step?  How might a being a woman, having a home to live in, speaking English as a first language … shape your opinion or interpretation on that?

ASSESSMENT

 Where are you now, where would you like to go, how would you like to get there?  What would you like to see change?  Where are you struggling? Which of your strengths could be helpful there?  Who are your supporters? How can they be involved?

PLANNING

 What would you like to see happen next? How do you think you might get there?  What assumptions might you be making about that person or situation? © 2002 National Service Leadership Institute Deepening Leadership in Ourselves and Others - 6 EXAMPLES OF COACHING QUESTIONS, (CONTINUED)

EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES

 What are all the possibilities for this situation?  When have you used a similar approach? How did it work?  Would you like suggestions from me?  What are the benefits and pitfalls of these options?

MAKING DECISIONS

 What will be your criteria for making the decision?  What might be some implications of that decision?  Who else could you involve in that decision making process?

EVALUATION

 What do you think made that successful?  What would you do next time?

RESPONDING TO THE COACHEESS NEEDS AND DESIRES

 How can I be of service to you?

Notes:

Questions that begin with “Don’t you think …” are usually statements veiled as questions. Asking “what,” “how,” “where,” or “who” questions tend to generate deeper responses than “do” or “will” questions. Sometimes “why” questions can put people on the defensive: “Why didn’t you …” or “Why did you …”