What Are Some Good Coaching Questions?

Good coaching questions are powerful tools that help clients to think deeply, gain insights, and take action towards their goals. Effective questions are open-ended, thought-provoking, and encourage self-reflection.

Here are some examples of impactful coaching questions, categorized by their potential use in a coaching session…

For Establishing Goals

What do you want to achieve in the next 3 months/6 months/year?
What does success look like for you in this situation?
How will you know you have achieved your goal?

For Gaining Clarity

What’s holding you back from reaching your goals?
What are the most important things to you right now, and why?
Can you describe a time when you felt most alive and fulfilled? What were you doing?

For Uncovering Values and Motivations

What values are most important to you in your life/career?
When have you felt most motivated and inspired? What triggered those feelings?
How do your goals align with your core values?

For Exploring Options and Possibilities

What are all the possible ways you can achieve this goal?
If you had unlimited resources, what would you do?
What would you try now if you knew you could not fail?

For Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges

What are the biggest obstacles you’re facing right now?
How have you overcome similar challenges in the past?
What’s one thing you can do differently this time?

For Decision Making

What criteria are most important to you in making this decision?
What are the pros and cons of each option you’re considering?
If you were to give advice to a friend in the same situation, what would it be?

For Taking Action

What’s the first/next step you can take towards your goal?
What resources do you need to move forward?
How will you hold yourself accountable to take this action?

For Reflecting on Progress and Learning

What have you learned about yourself through this process?
How have your actions moved you closer to your goal?
What would you do differently if you were to start over?

For Building Confidence and Self-Belief

What strengths do you have that can help you achieve your goals?
Can you recall a time when you successfully handled a similar situation?
What’s one small step you can take right now that you feel confident about?

Using these questions can facilitate meaningful conversations that empower clients to discover their own answers, encouraging them to take responsibility for their actions and decisions. Tailoring questions to the individual client and their specific context will make your coaching sessions even more effective and impactful.