Questions can form the backbone to any group coaching process. In fact, questions are a coaches most portable tool.
We can use questions to support clients in:
- deepening their awareness around an issue - becoming more aware of a perspective they are in, being more aware of choices they have made
- setting more powerful, and clearer (SMART) goals
- creating more concrete actions steps they want to take
In the mentor coaching work I do with newer coaches I encourage coaches to get their questions down to 5-7 words in length. We often have a tendency to "muddy the waters" or make things more complicated with longer statements rolled up with a question.
What are your favorite questions? For individual coaching conversations? For group coaching conversations?
Here are 10 that I like to use at different stages of the group coaching process:
1. What's been your biggest success (this week)?
2. What's been your biggest challenge (this week)?
3. What's been important about....?
4. What's your key learning from....?
5. What's important about that?
6. What do you want to celebrate?
7. What do you want as your focus going forward (this week, this month?)?
8. What's your priority?
9. What might get in the way? What will enable you?
10. What else....?
What are some of your favorite group coaching questions? Try these out in your next coaching conversation and add to your own list...
Have a terrific week!
Warm regards
Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials - Next Group Coaching Essentials class starts March 22nd (Tues 7-815 pm ET): March 22, 29, April 5, 12 and 19, 2011 (6.75 CCEs)
Join me in Toronto on April 2 and 3 for the Group Coaching Intensive program (15 ICF CCEs)
Jenn,
ReplyDeleteI would suggest these 10 questions are appropriate for 1-on-1 coaching as well. Thanks for the list it will help me as I start working with a new client.
Absolutely! These are also great questions for a 1-1 coaching conversation. Questions are one of our most powerful coaching tools.
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