3 Questions Coaches Use

Posted on August 24, 2018 by Dr Charles Png, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.

What 3 Questions Do We Ask Ourselves in Coaching?

I am often asked what are the types of questions that I will use in my coaching experience with my clients. My favourite 3 questions often helps me to to focus on my client’s strengths and their positive intentions.

I would suggest 3 questions to start coaching through any challenge. The first question leverages on the executive programme that I attended at MIT on Negotiations and my biggest takeaway from that progamme.

1. What has worked well? How can I do it differently?

After an event, I use this question to focus my attention on the good impact of my actions. I also look forward to doing it better the next time I embark on a task or when I engage with someone else in a relationship. It opens up new possibilities and focuses on positive actions to come.

In the next question, Professor Marshall Goldsmith in his book, Triggers, has given us an opportunity to reflect and to ask ourselves that Daily Question.

2. Did I do my best to…?

So for example, did I do my best to speak well of my colleagues in the office today? Did I do my best to acknowledge the good work of my client? It helps me to reflect about my intention and what I needed to do as a follow up action. I love this question because of the focus it gives me to strive to work on my best intentions.

Finally, a third question follows up on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People from Steven Covey’s work.

3. Have I sought to understand first?

This prompts me to look from the perspective of others first before I begin to understand the issue from my own perspective. It causes me to pause and to look at an issue from the third eye.

I hope these 3 questions will help you see a new perspective in your relationships and situations at work.