Comments on: Do You Have a Favorite Coaching Question?

By: Judy Murdoch: Highly Contagious Marketing

Judy Murdoch: Highly Contagious Marketing — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 13:31:43 +0000

For me, one of the great pleasures of life is being asked a good question. Some of the things that happen for me when I’m asked a good question are:

- I feel inspired to answer. Not compelled, not to defend myself, but inspired
- The question opens up new paths for ideas and exploration
- The question nudges me out of a rut I’m stuck in. I use the word “nudge” deliberately because from time to time someone, coach or otherwise has asked a question trying to be “provocative” and it just comes off as mean or manipulative
- I feel curious because I want to know the answer too.
- I feel a little scared about what the answer may be but feel drawn to look anyway.

Good, juicy questions are a great gift.

Here’s a good question I’m asking myself:

What would it take for work to REALLY feel like play for you? I like my work for the most part but I’m still working on projects and clients that aren’t “jazzing” me. How do I change this?

By: Tim Olson

Tim Olson — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 01:28:37 +0000

I observed a coach and client in action and the coach asked the client what some possibilities might be. The client thought and said he really didn’t know. The coach then asked, well, if you did know, what would you say? I was thinking that was a ridiculous question, but then the client responded with some great ideas and I have used it successfully many times myself. It is a great question that makes the client go deeper without any additional prodding.

By: Terri Zwierzynski

Terri Zwierzynski — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 22:09:07 +0000

My favorite coaching question is from my former coach, Sandra Ries. I was feeling fearful about something bad happening (I forget what now!) and she asked me, “and so what would happen if that happened?”. And then to each of my responses, she’d repeat “and so what would happen then?” until I realized that no matter what happened, it wasn’t the end of the world, I wasn’t going to be destitute, people weren’t going to hate me.

It was a powerful question, and yet so simple!

By: Matt Perelstein

Matt Perelstein — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:50:39 +0000

Hi all!

One of my favorite questions starts with “Are you aware that…”. For example: “Are you aware that your answers seem short and curt?” or “Are you aware of what your eating?”.

I’ve found this sentence start to be non-judgemental, non-attacking and a good setup for some feedback / info from me. If the answer is Yes, then I can delve deeper into what’s making the person keep doing this behaviour. If the answer is No, then they’ve already learned something and can go forward, more aware and alert.

thanks. good question about questions!
- Matt