One of the touchstones of professional life coaching is the
ability to ask powerful questions. One
author defines powerful questions as “provocative inquiries that put a halt to
evasion and confusion.” (Kimsey-House,
et al, Co-Active Coaching, 3rd ed.).
One might say that these are questions that challenge the client to move
to the next level in clarity, action, and discovery. Such questions are very important in a process
that seeks to help individuals become the best, most productive, and most fulfilled
people that they can be.
Christian Coaches Network International conducts regular continuing
education seminars online on both the ICF core competencies and best practices
related to coaching. In a recent
presentation, Janice Lavore-Fletcher of Christian Coaching Institute offered
some interesting perspectives on asking powerful questions. One of the ideas I
found particularly interesting was the difference between transactional
questions and transformational questions.
Transactional questions are “doing” questions. They address actions and details, the kinds
of things that task oriented such as me like.
Transactional questions produce “to do” lists. For example, if a client is concerned about time
management, the coach works with her to produce SMART (Specific, Measureable,
Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound) Goals to achieve.
Transformational questions are “being” rather than “doing”
questions. These are the questions that
get to a person’s motivation. For
example, if a client brings up time management as a concern, the first question
might be, “Why is time management important to you?” Transformational questions seek to help the
client understand how the selected area for growth aligns with one’s core
values. The result is a more motivated
person who understands why someone wants to address a need.
Both types of questions are necessary in a coaching
conversation but if the appropriate amount of time is spent on the
transformational questions, a person will be more motivated to follow through
on the answers to the transactional questions.
What are the powerful questions that you should be asking yourself?
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