DETECTING QUESTIONS

What if you are asking the wrong question? After all, we say that the most effective coaches ask great questions. Yet what if when you are coaching you end up asking the wrong questions? First, how would you know that the question was the wrong one, and second, if you did find out that the questions you’re asking are taking the client in the wrong direction, then what? How do you correct it? How do you find and ask the right questions?

The Subject and Intention Criteria As you well know, clients often come into coaching with an idea of what they want. And when they do, they often immediately jump into the how question. “How do you do X?” Don’t be seduced. If you do, you’ll begin asking the wrong questions. First, find out what it is that your client really wants.

When you ask about how to do X, what is it that you are wanting to achieve? What is this about? Let’s say you do X, what is this X about?