82. When You Listen Deeply You Ask Better Questions!

Discover how to listen more deeply so that you can ask better questions. Great coaching is a conversation, and listening is the foundation of your ability to ask questions that create awareness and responsibility. 

Here are some sample questions to consider in your next coaching session. 

What

⦁ What have you done, tried, or considered?

⦁ What is the impact on you, your team, or the business?

⦁ What is happening?

⦁ What is most/least challenging about it?

⦁ What are your ideal/worst outcome?

⦁ What would the stakeholders want to see happen?

⦁ What would have to change/adjust to make that happen?

⦁ What conditions/considerations would have to be in place?

How

⦁ How will you prepare for the desired outcome?

⦁ How will you know you have accomplished your goal?

⦁ How will we measure success?

⦁ How will you communicate your goals with key stakeholders?

⦁ How will you stay self-aware, mindful and focused when things get busy?

Who

⦁ Who will be impacted—positively or negatively—by these proposed changes?

⦁ Who are leaders you respect? Tell me more?

⦁ Who else could offer you feedback?

⦁ Who needs to be included and aware of these goals?

⦁ Who are the key people in your network of support?

Where/When

⦁ Where/when do you feel you are at your personal best?

⦁ Where/when do you feel most triggered, reactive, not at your personal best?

⦁ Where might you experience resistance?

⦁ When you experience [an emotion—frustration, impatience, etc.]; where do you experience that in your body (e.g. tension in the jaw)?

⦁ Where would you like to be in your career in 3-5 years?

Lastly, there are some descriptor questions that can help you get at what is happening in a given situation:

⦁ Help me understand…

⦁ Tell me more about that…

⦁ Let me make sure I understand what you are saying…

⦁ I’m curious about…

⦁ Could you describe further…