7 Powerful Questioning Practices to Maximise Your Client's Growth

Originally Posted on The Coaching Tools Company as 7 Powerful Questioning Practices to Maximise Your Client's Growth | By Sarah Evans, MCC

Inquiry is a core process and way of being in coaching.

In my practice I have observed that creative, generative, powerful questioning is one of coaching's greatest strengths.

Powerful questions support a coachee's learning, discovery and development. Used in conjunction with other coaching skills such as sharing observations, noticing patterns and challenging beliefs; powerful questioning is an impactful way to support a coachee's knowing of themselves and how they view their world.

When we customize our questions, including incorporating the coachee's language and meaning, we enter the coachee's way of processing their inner world of thoughts, feelings, beliefs, values, needs, wants, and aspirations.

Edgar Schein ¹ speaks of humble inquiry as, "the fine art of drawing someone out, of asking questions to which you do not already know the answer, of building a relationship based on curiosity and interest in the other person." Inquiry from this way of being invites trust, empathy, compassion, connection and a deeper understanding of another human being.

"It takes courage to ask a question rather than offer up advice, provide an answer or unleash a solution. Giving another person the opportunity to find their own way, make their own mistakes, and create their own wisdom is both brave and vulnerable. It can also mean unlearning our 'fix it' habits." Brene Brown ²

Ask, don't tell: lessons from neuroscience

Imagine asking questions that grab your coachee's attention and pique their motivation to explore, discover, experiment, learn, grow and change!

Harnessing the lessons of neuroscience in coaching and for change, there are compelling reasons to ask questions that provoke new thinking and insight.

The concept of neuroplasticity ³ teaches us that our brains can physically change to encourage creative thinking and new knowledge. Our neurons can actually move into new locations in our brain when we learn. And questions act as a catalyst for our brains to change and move forward with new insight.

What happens when we ask a coaching question, and why it matters...

First, what do I mean by a coaching question? For me a true coaching question is a creative, generative, powerful question. A coaching question is not a leading question, rhetorical question, embarrassing personal question - or a question with an embedded solution.

And the neuroscience bit:

So, when we ask a coaching question, the coachee's entire brain becomes active as it reflects, releasing serotonin (a natural mood stabilizer). This encourages gathering intelligence from all areas of the brain, allowing for more insight for the coachee than if we provide advice, answers or solutions. New neural connections begin to be made as the coachee's brain moves closer to finding their own new perspectives, answers or solutions.

As serotonin is released, a rush of energy (or insight) occurs as the brain fires up, moving ahead into discovery of perspectives, answers or solutions. The coachee who received the question has literally had their brain provoked and that rush of energy can become a motivator for action. And while the brain's burst of energy is short lived, we can help leverage that energy, new awareness and insight by asking the coachee to commit to forward momentum/action, as well as asking how they will hold themselves accountable to their commitment.

"Learn to recognize the moment when you ask the question and there's a pause, a heartbeat of silence when you can see the person actually thinking and figuring out the answer. You can almost see new neural connections being made." Michael Bungay Stanier ⁴

7 Powerful Questioning Practices

The questions we ask can literally expand what our coachees access, see and experience. Our coaching questions can:

Focus attention
Foster curiosity
Evoke awareness and insight
Invoke new perspectives or possibilities
Provoke new thinking and action
Expand potential and capacity
Encourage commitment

So, here are 7 powerful questioning practices to maximise your coachee's self-awareness, growth and learning:

Let your question emerge organically from your deep listening, attuned curiosity and from the silence.
Ask one question at a time.
Pause and hold space for your coachee to 'sit with' the question. A pause is also a fertile space in which our questions can grow.
Ask mostly open questions to maximise neural connections.
Use closed questions when you want to invite a narrowed focus.
Inquire into potential and possibility, rather than gathering information or probing for explanation.
Incorporate somatic ⁵ questions to help coachees become more present, have access to other ways of knowing and increase their acuity of what is happening in and around them. For example, "What do you notice in your body as you are saying this?", "What comes up for you there?" or "What emotions or sensations are you noticing in your body?"

Wrap-Up

"We live in the world our questions create." David Cooperrider

I hope this article inspires you to ask creative, generative and powerful questions that foster curiosity, awareness and insight. Consider yourself an evocative, invocative and provocative coach!

References:
¹ Edgar H. Schein (2013). Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling.
² Brene Brown in "Praise for The Coaching Habit". Michael Bungay Stanier (2016). The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever.
³ "Neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity, or neural plasticity, is the ability of the brain to change continuously throughout an individual's life" (Wikipedia)
⁴ Michael Bungay Stanier (2016). The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever. page 93.
⁵ Soma is the body as distinct from the soul or mind. Wikipedia says "...somatic psychology has been defined as: 'the study of the mind/body interface, the relationship between our physical matter and our energy, the interaction of our body structures with our thoughts and actions.' "

Contributing Author: Sarah Evans, MCC, PhD (cand.), Dip. CS, is passionate about working with visionary decision-makers and influencers inspired by the transformative potential of coaching. She is an executive leadership & team coach, facilitator, OD consultant, coaching supervisor, and mentor coach dedicated to supporting individuals, teams, and organizations lead and thrive in complexity. Her goal is to maximize human capacity, organizational capabilities, and contributions to societal well-being. Her key working themes are relationships, resilience, results! Visit her website here and connect with her on Linkedin. Sarah is a member of the International Coach Federation, where she holds a Master Certified Coach (MCC) credential.