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567 Powerful Coaching Questions

This is the biggest, most comprehensive list of coaching questions available anywhere.

Though this list is huge, each of the questions is carefully chosen to ensure that they are open-ended, powerfully insightful, and engaging. At the same time, to make it easy for you to find the most appropriate questions, I have individually categorized them. Use the handy filters below to browse through the various questions in that particular category.

567 powerful coaching questions (Categorized + PDF)

“To ask the right question is already half the solution to a problem.” – Carl Jung

With this list of coaching questions available at your fingertips, there is no excuse not to have a transformational session with your client.

So let’s get into it!

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567 powerful coaching questions (Categorized + PDF)

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Choose Your Own Questions
Goal-Oriented Questions
Career/Work Oriented Questions
New Client Questions
Get Clarity on Current Status and Goal Defining
Vision, Objectives and Purpose
Explore Needs/Desires
Accountable and Responsible
Confronting and Overcoming Fears
Resolving Confusion and Bringing Clarity
New Possibilities or Perspectives
General Follow-up Questions
Health/General Questions

Goal-Oriented Questions

Goal-oriented powerful coaching questions serve as catalysts for deep exploration and transformation. Drawing from my experience, these thought-provoking inquiries are designed to help individuals gain clarity, set meaningful goals, and take purposeful action. By asking the right questions, coaches can unlock new insights and empower their clients to achieve their aspirations with focus and intention. Let’s dive into them!

  • What goal do you want to achieve?
  • What do you really want?
  • What would you like to accomplish?
  • What result are you trying to achieve?
  • What outcome would be ideal?
  • What do you want to change?
  • Why are you hoping to achieve this goal?
  • What would the benefits be if you achieved this goal?
  • What is happening now (what, who, when, and how often)? What is the effect or result of this?
  • Have you already taken any steps towards your goal?
  • How would you describe what you did?
  • Where are you now in relation to your goal?
  • On a scale of one to 10, where are you?
  • What has contributed to your success so far?
  • Why haven’t you reached that goal already?
  • What do you think is stopping you?
  • What do you think was really happening?
  • Do you know other people who have achieved that goal? How did they manage?
  • What have you already tried?
  • How could you turn this around this time?
  • What do you think you need to do next?
  • What could be your first step?
  • What do you think you need to do to get a better result (or closer to your goal)?
  • What else could you do?
  • Who else might be able to help?
  • What would happen if you did nothing?
  • What has worked for you already? How could you do more of that?
  • What would happen if you did that?
  • What could you do differently?
  • If anything was possible, what would you do?
  • What else?
  • How are going to go about it?
  • What do you think you need to do right now?
  • Tell me how you’re going to do that.
  • How will you know when you have done it?
  • Is there anything else you can do?
  • On a scale of one to 10, what is the likelihood of your plan succeeding?
  • What would it take to make it a 10?
  • What obstacles are getting in the way of success?
  • What roadblocks do you expect or require planning?
  • What resources can help you?
  • Is there anything missing?
  • What will be the one small step you take now?
  • When are you going to start?
  • How will you know you have been successful?
  • What support do you need to get that done?
  • What will happen (or, what is the cost) of you NOT doing this?
  • What do you need from me/others to help you achieve this?
  • On a scale of one to 10, how committed/motivated are you to doing it?
  • What are some ways you can get to 10?
  • What’s Standing In Your Way?
  • Can You Tell Me More?
  • What Will Happen If You Don’t Take This Step?
  • What Will Things Look Like After You’ve Been Successful?
  • What Are You Doing To Not Achieve Your Goal?
  • If Your Main Obstacle Didn’t Exist, How Would Your Life Look?
  • How will your achieving this goal help others around you?
  • Why is it important to you to accomplish your goal?
  • How do you feel you could best motivate yourself?
  • What are the best ways for you to support yourself at this point?
  • Tell me more about this perfect result?
  • What is the deeper meaning or personal significance that this goal has for you?
  • What positive things do you feel will happen if you accomplish what you’re trying to achieve?
  • What do you feel you need to achieve your goal?
  • What might you do to take you closer after that?
  • Can you think of some alternatives? Is there another way?
  • Who might you ask for help? Who else?
  • In the past, what has worked for you? What did you learn from that?
  • Tell me what you think would happen if you tried doing that?
  • What are the pros and cons of this option?
  • Which possible pathway do you feel prepared to go down?
  • What would you do if time/money/resources weren’t an issue?
  • How will you measure your progress using this option?
  • Which opportunity are you going to pursue?
  • What specific actions will you take to achieve your goal? What is your time frame?
  • What are the steps you’re going to take? What’s the very first thing you will do?
  • What are the next three steps? What else?
  • Have you considered the potential barriers?
  • Tell me how you plan to overcome these obstacles…
  • Who will you ask to help you along the way? What else will you need?
  • What do you want to walk away with at the end of this call? How will you know we were successful?
  • What could we work on that would make the biggest difference to you?
  • What would you like to have happened at the end of the session?
  • So tell me, what’s going right for you? (good to get the coaching session started)
  • What is the biggest challenge in your life today?

Career/Work Oriented Questions

Career/work-oriented powerful coaching questions are instrumental in guiding individuals toward fulfilling and successful professional journeys. Our team discovered that these thought-provoking inquiries help individuals gain clarity about their career goals, identify their strengths and passions, overcome challenges, and make informed decisions to create a fulfilling and purposeful work life.

  • What is one key thing you want to achieve at this moment?
  • What are the three areas you wish to develop, enhance, or grow?
  • What do you see as the real challenge right now?
  • Do you need to work harder or delegate this?
  • Imagine you’ve just ended the perfect week at work. What outcomes make you proudest?
  • In what specific areas would you like to be at your professional best?
  • What are some ways this challenge is impacting you or others?
  • Tell me why you see this as an ideal professional outcome?
  • Help me understand why this change is particularly meaningful to you?
  • Could you tell me how this would help you and your team achieve their mission?
  • What do you think would be a good first step?
  • What has worked for you in the past when it comes to your professional growth?
  • How might you draw on that same approach in this case?
  • How might you broaden your current line of thinking?
  • How might you turn these steps into a plan?
  • How will you prepare for each step?
  • How do you plan to motivate yourself when obstacles arise? What are some ways to motivate yourself to get started?
  • What matters the most to you in your professional life? What do you believe passionately in?
  • What skills, talents, or competencies do you have that you are most proud of? Which makes you the happiest? Which makes you feel accomplished?
  • What would you love to be able to list on your ideal resume? How about if there were no barriers or boundaries?
  • Describe the last time you felt driven and motivated by your role (current or past). What were you doing? Who was around? Where were you?
  • When trying to learn a skill you’re passionate about, what are some barriers you’ve faced? How did you overcome these? Which did you need help with?
  • What do you feel is preventing you from learning the knowledge you’re after? Have you asked anyone else for help? If so, what happened?
  • What is one step you could take to get closer to that career goal? What kind of development or opportunities might you need to make that step? What opportunities can you create for yourself?
  • What can you practically achieve between now and next week/month/quarter to take you closer to your goal?
  • How would you go about achieving your career goal if you had unlimited resources? What is already possible right now?
  • Have you told others around you about your career goals? Has anyone achieved a similar objective?
  • Describe what you can observe…
  • What is the biggest change you’d like to make in your business and life, assuming you have enough support to do it?
  • On a scale of 1-10 (high), how important is it?
  • What did you say to yourself or tell yourself at that point?
  • What did you then do?
  • How did it end?
  • What is it you want to change, and why?
  • What is driving you to do it a different way?
  • What do you feel is in the way of you making this change?
  • What will you need to get started?
  • What past experiences can you draw from to help you make this pivot?
  • What can you do instead of [what you’ve done before]?
  • How might you sabotage your coaching progress and our professional relationship?
  • What business/career opportunities are you currently not making the most/anything of?
  • By saying “yes” to longer work hours, what / who are you saying “no” to?
  • What % of your sales team is on track to exceed their goal this year?
  • Who has had a great influence on your business life? (Top 3 people that come to your mind)/What was it that they did that had such an influence? /What is it that you took away from that influential situation? /”Whose list are you on for being influential in their lives?”
  • What would you like to celebrate/honor about your work today?

New Client Questions

New client powerful coaching questions play a crucial role in establishing a strong foundation for effective coaching relationships. Based on my first-hand experience, these insightful inquiries help coaches understand their client’s needs, aspirations, and challenges. By asking thought-provoking questions, coaches can encourage self-reflection, unlock hidden potential, and facilitate personal growth and transformation.

  • What would you like to happen with _____?
  • What Is The Most Important Thing In The World To You, And Why?
  • What’s Important About That To You?
  • What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
  • What are some things you feel grateful for?
  • In the past week/month/year, what were your three most positive moments?
  • What do you hope to have accomplished by the end of our session(s) together?
  • How will you specifically know what success looks like for you?
  • What would be the most significant success you could hope for from our meeting?
  • What other aspects of your life do you feel will be improved by accomplishing this?
  • What Are Your ‘Five Whys?’
  • What Are You Most Proud Of?
  • How do you feel you would best motivate yourself?
  • What matters to you the most concerning this value/life domain?
  • What are you eager to accomplish through this personal coaching sequence/session?
  • What would you like to see happen?
  • What is it specifically that you want to achieve?
  • Describe your ideal outcome from this coaching…
  • What is the deeper meaning or personal significance that this goal has for you?
  • What positive things do you feel will happen if you accomplish what you’re trying to achieve?
  • Tell me how you will know if you’ve attained your desired outcome?
  • At this point, what’s happening to you now? What impact or influence is this having?
  • Tell me more about this… with whom? Where? When?
  • Have you tried anything thus far to achieve your goal?
  • I’m curious about what you did… How did it go for you? Share some examples with me…
  • Where do you get your energy – what motivates and turns you on? What are you passionate about?
  • What moves you to tears of joy/sorrow?
  • What do you enjoy doing?
  • What do you find works for you to feel better when you are experiencing stress?
  • Where are you likely to be most irresponsible?
  • What emotion (anger, fear, anxiety, etc) may make you feel most out of control?
  • How might you sabotage your coaching progress and our professional relationship?
  • How will you know how effective our coaching has been?
  • How can I best coach you? For instance, do you like lots of structure or things done informally or a mix of both?
  • Do you find you learn best predominantly by listening, seeing, or doing, or an equal combination of all three?
  • Do you understand that I will support YOU, not just your goals?
  • What are your values—the things in life that are really important to you? If you are not sure of this, we will find out as part of the coaching process.
  • What is your most urgent problem?
  • What are the biggest regrets you have in your life: Personal; Career/Business

Get Clarity on Current Status and Goal Defining

These powerful coaching questions are essential tools for coaches to use to help clients gain a clear understanding of their present situation and define meaningful goals. Through our practical knowledge, by asking targeted and thought-provoking questions, coaches assist clients in exploring their desires, aspirations, and obstacles, paving the way for effective goal setting and progress toward success.

  • Are you happy with your current status or position in life?
  • How do you define, at this stage of your life: a) success? b) happiness?
  • What is your biggest fear in life?
  • What is your daily source of energy and joy?
  • What/who are you grateful for?
  • What word would you use to describe your last year?
  • Where do you want to be in the next 5 years?
  • How are you going to get to your destination?
  • What is the most amazing thing that has happened to you so far this year?
  • Whom did you want to help but could not?
  • What must you accomplish in the next 12 months?
  • What would you like to focus on today?
  • What’s important to you at the moment?
  • What are you working on at the moment?
  • What challenges are you struggling with at the moment?
  • How can you word that goal more specifically, using positive language?
  • How can you measure that goal?
  • How can you break down that goal into bite-sized pieces?
  • What’s your ideal future?
  • Where is your life out of balance?
  • What is the legacy that you want to leave?
  • What new skills do you want to learn or develop?
  • What’s working well for you at the moment?
  • What isn’t working well at the moment?
  • What have you done so far to improve things?
  • How does this goal impact your spouse/partner?
  • What’s the excuse that you have always used for not achieving your goals?
  • What aspects of your life will be impacted by reaching the above goal?
  • What is the biggest obstacle that you are facing?
  • What are you afraid of?
  • What are you passionate about?
  • What are you willing to endure to see your goal become a reality?
  • Is that a need or a want?
  • Where are you sabotaging yourself?
  • What do you think you should do first?
  • What would be the most helpful thing that you could do now?
  • If money wasn’t a restriction for you, what would you do?
  • If time wasn’t a restriction for you, what would you do?
  • What would you do if you weren’t accountable to anyone?
  • What would (enter the name of relevant expert) do in this situation?
  • What do you sense God is telling you to do?
  • If you were guaranteed to succeed, what would you do?
  • What’s the best use of your time at the moment?
  • If you could only do one thing this week, what would it be?
  • What can you do better than anyone else in your organization?
  • What books should you be reading to help you achieve your goals?
  • If you went to your boss with this problem, what would they suggest?
  • If you saw someone else in your situation, what would you suggest they do?
  • If you had 50% more confidence, what would you be doing that would be different?
  • If you weren’t holding anything back, what would you be doing?
  • What are you going to do in the next 24 hours?
  • How committed are you to reaching this goal?
  • Who do you need to speak to about this goal?
  • How are you going to celebrate reaching your goal?
  • Whatever your first step is, can you think of anything that might stop you from doing it?
  • Is there anything else that you need to consider before starting?
  • What dreams and fantasies do you have?
  • If anything was possible, what would you want?
  • Describe you at your best or on your best day.
  • What do you want to happen today, next week, next month, and next year?
  • What are your key goals – what outcomes will they bring?
  • How long have you been thinking about this goal or change?
  • What is working well right now, what keeps you motivated?
  • Where are you when you are acting at your best?
  • What do you say to yourself when you are feeling successful?
  • Are you focused on your goal 100%?
  • Is your goal designed to gain pleasure or to avoid pain?
  • Is your goal giving you energy or draining your energy?
  • What will really make the biggest difference in your life?
  • What would work best for you?
  • What options do you have for moving forward?
  • What else could you do?
  • Will this choice move you forward or keep you stuck in a rut?
  • How have you handled this situation successfully in the past?
  • If you were advising a friend or family member with the same goal/barrier what would you suggest?
  • What does your intuition tell you about this?
  • Have you solved problems like this before? What did you do?
  • What is really important to you? Make a list
  • What item on your lift has the most importance?
  • What rules do you have for yourself, which are getting in the way?
  • If you changed your belief about this, what would be possible?
  • Is this a decision or a dream?
  • If you did know the answer, what would it be?
  • What question should I be asking you?

Vision, Objectives and Purpose

Discovering your true purpose and setting clear objectives are keys to unlocking a fulfilling and purposeful life. Life coaching provides invaluable support on this journey of self-exploration and personal development. In this section, we present a collection of insightful questions designed to help you explore your vision, objectives, and purpose.

  • What’s missing?
  • What does success look like?
  • What do YOU really want?
  • What is most important to you?
  • What are you yearning for?
  • What motivates you?
  • What would you die for?
  • Are you happy?
  • What do you want to create?
  • What’s your heart telling you? …. and the golden key is definitely – silence.
  • What would really make your heart sing?
  • How does the outcome of that task fit with your top five goals?
  • What’s important now?
  • What wants to happen?
  • Who are you? I ask it in a way to open the conversation looking for more than the obvious.
  • To my perfectionist clients, I ask “When is good, good enough?
  • To my egotistical clients “If someone did that to you, what would that motivate you to do? To feel?
  • If your anger was powerful fuel you can redirect to build or develop something you really want, what do you want to go for, with all your heart and energy?
  • If no one ever gave you a break or a chance, if it was never going to happen, what would you have to make happen?
  • Who do you want to be in this situation?
  • Who do you want to show up as…?
  • What is the goal for the situation (to self)? And what is it your hope to accomplish? (to client)
  • If you had six, perfectly healthy, months to live, what would you do now?
  • What were you put on this earth to do?
  • Imagine you wake up one morning and whatever challenge you had previously was miraculously overcome while you were sleeping. What is the first thing you notice that confirms something actually happened?
  • What would it take to have such a day?
  • How willing would you be to do your part to make that happen?
  • If nothing changes, what will that cost you?

Explore Needs/Desires

Needs/desires Powerful coaching questions serve as a valuable tool for coaches to uncover the underlying needs and desires of their clients. Through strategic questioning, coaches can delve deeper into what drives and motivates individuals, allowing them to align their goals and actions with their true aspirations. Our investigation demonstrated that these questions help clients gain clarity and insight, paving the way for meaningful and fulfilling personal and professional growth.

  • What do you really need?
  • What would make you feel most empowered in this situation?
  • What needs to become clear for you?
  • Do YOU believe what you just said?
  • What is the story you are telling yourself?
  • If you were giving yourself advice, what would you say to yourself right now.
  • What question do you have for yourself right now?
  • Can I ask you a completely different question?. When they say yes and focus, I ask them exactly the same question again, with much more concentrated attention.
  • What is your body telling you?
  • If you were your own coach, what question or idea would you have right now?
  • I’d like you to have a dialogue with me as a client and you as a coach (two chairs, Gestalt style).
  • I’d like to try something unusual for me: you just work on your options, and I’ll see if I can guess your issue. But don’t give me any clues that will make it too easy. OK? (OK is the question part).
  • Wow! Are you sure that’s true?
  • Do you know that to be true?
  • How does the situation make YOU feel?
  • Am I ready to listen and say nothing? (Question for the Coach)
  • What if you started trusting your legendary feminine intuition and just came out and admitted to what you know you want to do anyway?
  • What if the opposite was true?
  • Do you listen to yourself?
  • What does this situation teach you about yourself?
  • How is this situation an opportunity for you to learn something really important for your future?
  • If this person was actually your spiritual master helping you face a very personal challenge, how do you need to grow here?
  • How is that working for you?
  • What do you make that mean about you?
  • Would you mind if we sit quietly and take a few deep breaths before we continue?
  • How important is it for you to find a solution to your problem? / What is it worth to you to find a solution/eliminate the problem in terms of your time and energy?
  • Imagine that this coaching session has gone totally wrong, what exactly happened? / Imagine that this coaching session went great, what exactly happened?
  • Are you standing in your power or pleasing someone else?
  • What are you pretending not to know?

Accountable and Responsible

Accountable and responsible, powerful coaching questions play a vital role in guiding clients toward their desired outcomes. Our findings show that, by asking these questions, coaches encourage clients to take ownership of their actions, decisions, and progress. These questions help clients become more accountable for their goals and empower them to make responsible choices that lead to success and personal development.

  • What do you choose to do with that information?
  • How would improving that make you feel?
  • Who may be available to help/support you in this?
  • If not THE GROWTH COACH, Then WHAT? If not YOU, then WHO? If not NOW, then WHEN?
  • What can you do better?
  • What would be the result if you did X?
  • Is there something you have always wanted to do but never tried? possibly never even told anyone?
  • Are you moving forward in the right gear? Is it too high/low? How can you change gear?
  • What other resources (people or things) can you use to help you find the answer to your issue/problem/etc.
  • How would the situation look like if you had the power of a magician?
  • How are you planning to get there?
  • What do you want to do with this?
  • To succeed in your meetings starting tomorrow, what is the first thing you will make sure you don’t do anymore?
  • Who will decide?
  • What DO you have the power to do right now?
  • Do you want to find out that anything is possible?
  • What is the smallest possible step you could immediately take, in the right direction?
  • So what would have to happen for you to set it up that way?
  • How willing are you to do whatever it takes to discover the highest and best of who you are?
  • What have you already tried to overcome this problem? sometimes coupled with What is your own theory why you haven’t been able to overcome it?
  • Have you used all the resources at your disposal? Really??? ALL of them???
  • What could you do today without anything or anyone else changing?
  • What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
  • What wouldn’t happen if you didn’t do it?
  • Imagine that you are 5 or 10 years in the future. How do you remember this day (date)? What do you want to remember?
  • Imagine that you can do anything… If you were the king/queen of Spain, what would you do in this situation? What is it that you want to achieve/accomplish?
  • What is the best use of your time RIGHT NOW?
  • If you could wave a magic wand… ( i.e. “what would this situation look like?” or “what would you be doing?” or…)
  • Who is in control? Who decides?
  • Which option do you feel ready to act on?
  • How have you tacked this/a similar situation before?
  • What could you do differently?
  • Who do you know who has encountered a similar situation?
  • If anything was possible, what would you do?
  • How are going to go about it?

Confronting and Overcoming Fears

Confronting and overcoming fears is an essential aspect of personal growth and development. Powerful coaching questions can effectively assist individuals in identifying and addressing their fears, allowing them to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Our research indicates that these questions help clients explore their fears, challenge limiting beliefs, and develop strategies to move past their fears and embrace new possibilities.

  • What is the biggest challenge you have in your life right now?
  • What is the worst-case scenario if you would actually go forth with ‘it’?
  • What is the senior leadership team saying behind closed doors about you?
  • If your fear was really useful for you to develop your awareness of areas where you need to be particularly attentive, just to stay safe, how can you use it with high precision?
  • What are you afraid would happen?
  • What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
  • What is the worst thing that could happen? Is that a risk you could live with?
  • How would you approach this situation if you weren’t afraid of failing?
  • What would be the best way to tackle that fear?
  • Where do you think you would be, right now, if it were not for your fear of taking a chance?
  • Where would you like to be, right now, in your career, your life, etc.? whichever is appropriate for the situation…
  • What would your hero do in this situation?
  • And when you were being X, how did that situation work out better than when you were Y? X = highlight of strength and Y = reference to non-strength.
  • How did you manage to survive so far? What did you do to prevent worse?
  • When was the last time you were in a situation like this?
  • What did you do? What worked? What might you have done differently?
  • What can you learn from your past..?
  • What would you do if you were ten times bolder?
  • If you were to advise your best friend about (your problem, difficulty, obstacle, situation, next step action plan) what would you suggest?
  • What are three personal desires you are currently not pursuing?
  • Is there anyone in your life who is constantly putting you down, making you feel inadequate, or whom you feel you have to tread carefully around?
  • Are you acting on faith or fear?
  • If you weren’t scared, what would you do?

Resolving Confusion and Bringing Clarity

Resolving confusion and bringing clarity are crucial for making informed decisions and taking purposeful action. Based on our observations, these powerful coaching questions can help individuals untangle their thoughts, identify underlying beliefs, and gain a clear understanding of their desires and priorities. These questions provide a framework for self-reflection, enabling clients to find clarity, make confident choices, and move forward with intention.

  • As you move towards your most inspired goal, what do you notice about who you are becoming?
  • What is missing, that if present, would have the biggest impact?
  • How’s that working for you? How is that serving you?
  • What is this calling forth from you?
  • What do you mean by (a word, concept, idea) i.e. I’m a perfectionist: And what does perfectionist mean for you…?
  • If you were to meet the younger version of yourself at the point in your life where this __ issue became the most vivid, what would you share with her and what would you not share?
  • What does it feel like to be you?
  • What is the benefit of the present situation? What are the disadvantages of the new situation?
  • And what is true? (and if they ask, as some do, what do you mean? I add: about this situation, about what you know in your heart).
  • What would be the most powerful question I could ask you right now?
  • Does that really matter? If the answer is yes, then “How?”. If no, then “Why is it coming up for you here?”
  • What do you need to let go of?
  • What do you really need to know?
  • Are you really persuaded that the confusion is in you and not in the situation?
  • You seem convinced that this place is external to you. What if it was actually in you and so much part of you that you could access it wherever you are?
  • And if that were true, what would that mean?
  • What is the truth of the matter?
  • What is the risk if you change? …….. And what is the risk if you do not change?
  • Do you have to do X or do you want to do X?
  • Are you doing something to change this situation?
  • I have been struck by the power of questions related to a certain gesture, so often ask, what was that..(movement) about?
  • What would it take to move you toward “yes”?
  • What question do you hear me asking you right now?!
  • If you could start (this relationship, this project, etc) all over again from scratch, how would you do it completely differently, knowing what you know now? What can you do now to create that reality?
  • What problems does that create for you?
  • By doing X, you are accepting Y. Is this the choice you are making?
  • If you had to change what you were doing what would you change?
  • What is so important to you that you would stand in front of a bus to defend it?
  • What would be the impact on you (and others) if things don’t change?
  • What can you accomplish that doesn’t depend on others?

New Possibilities or Perspectives

New possibilities or perspectives can ignite creativity and open doors to personal and professional growth. These powerful coaching questions have the ability to challenge limiting beliefs, expand horizons, and encourage individuals to explore uncharted territories. Our research indicates that, by asking thought-provoking questions, coaches empower clients to tap into their potential, discover new opportunities, and envision a future filled with endless possibilities.

  • What is ‘perfect’ about this?
  • Is there anything we’re missing here?’
  • What are the underlying assumptions that you are making about yourself?
  • Are those assumptions supporting you or bringing you down?
  • What do you need to believe about yourself that will support you?
  • What would happen / what could and would you do if all obstacles magically disappeared?
  • Where did these barriers come from?
  • Do you know that to be true?
  • Let’s suppose you did know what the answer was, how would you know when you found it? What would be different?
  • If your close friend was in a similar situation (maybe describe the situation a little bit here) what would you say to them?
  • What is the positive intention behind his behaviour (client’s perceived aggressor)?
  • What in this situation, can you be grateful for?
  • What are you pretending not to know, that if you were to know would enable you to make the change easily and effortlessly, right now?
  • If you did know, what would you do…say…feel…decide?
  • If I could give you the answer to what you want right now, what would the question be?
  • What’s the greatest truth for you in this situation?” OR “What is the truest thing you know about yourself in this situation?
  • Question with “If”. For example “please imagine if you have every resource you need, what will you do”
  • What would you gain/lose by doing/saying that?
  • If someone did/said that to you what do you think would happen?
  • What’s the best/worst thing about that option?
  • What would you prefer to have as an alternative ending to this story?
  • What would need to change in your perspectives to accomplish that alternative outcome?
  • What obstacles do you feel could come your way?
  • How could you work with these challenges and experience your new narrative?
  • How will this story support you to change?
  • What can you do to move one more number up the scale?
  • What number on the scale do you want to be at?
  • How will you know when you have reached this number?
  • How can you learn from this problem so it never happens again?
  • WHO will you BE when you achieve… in other words, what will others see in you?
  • Where do you want to be in 5 or 10 years from now?
  • If this issue wasn’t there to keep you busy, … like a full-time job,… what do you really want to do with your vital energy?
  • What does this mean to you?
  • And if you achieved that, what would that do for you, that is even more significant?
  • What would you like to learn more about?
  • What part of the situation have you not explored?
  • What other angles can you think of?
  • What is one other way or possibility to explore?
  • What are other options?
  • If you could do it over again, how would you do it differently?

General Follow-up Questions

General follow-up questions are valuable tools in the coaching process, as they deepen understanding and facilitate progress. These questions help coaches delve deeper into client responses, clarify information, and encourage reflection. Based on our observations, by asking follow-up questions, coaches demonstrate active listening and support clients in exploring their thoughts, emotions, and actions, ultimately leading to greater self-awareness and growth.

  • What has been your biggest achievement since we last met?
  • What has gone really well for you for this week?
  • How have you progressed – what did you do differently?
  • What is great about your life this week?
  • How have you grown this week?
  • What did you accomplish this week?
  • What happens last week for you to want to make a change this week?
  • Who else will benefit from what you have learned and How you have changed?
  • How many positive states have you been in this week?
  • What motivated you to complete last week’s actions and tasks?
  • What do you want to achieve in your life?
  • By what date do you want to achieve your goals?
  • What is important to you right now?
  • How can you ensure next week is as successful as this week or even more so?
  • If you are aware of the problem, do you know the solution?
  • How would you like it to be known?
  • What’s in the way of your success?
  • What’s stopping you from moving forward, how can you overcome this?
  • Have you ever experienced something like this before?
  • On a scale of 1 -10, what progress have you made so far in achieving your goal?
  • On a scale of 1 – 10, how motivated are you to carrying out this action to achieve your goal?
  • Who did you serve?
  • What did you learn?
  • Who else will benefit?
  • What are you grateful for?
  • Who’s grateful for you?
  • Is this what you want to be coached on or are you just sharing?
  • What could you be happy about if you chose to be?
  • Are you using this to grow or are you beating yourself up?
  • Does this story empower you or disempower you?
  • On a scale of 1 – 10, how honest have you been about this, with others?
  • Do you mind if I offer an observation?
  • Is this the problem or the solution?
  • Are you focused on what’s wrong or what’s right?
  • Is that a story or the truth?
  • Are there any important questions that have not been asked?
  • What is here that you’d like to explore?
  • What has contributed to your success so far?
  • How might it get in your way?
  • What might keep you from getting where you want to go?
  • What obstacles have you faced, what did you do, and what did you learn?
  • What obstacles do you expect to face? How do you plan to approach them?
  • What are your biggest mistakes and what did you learn from them?
  • If a friend were in your shoes, what advice would you give them?
  • What is one step you could take right now that would indicate you were moving forward?
  • In six months, if things were going exactly the way you want, what would you see?
  • What would be your next goal after you achieve your current one?
  • What would you do if you had unlimited resources?
  • Are you approaching this from your head or from your heart?
  • Is this an assumption or have you checked to be sure?
  • How can you learn what you need to know about this?
  • Is this the best outcome you can imagine or is there something greater?
  • Do you have a detailed strategy to get there?
  • How will you transform your life with this new knowledge?
  • What does this accomplishment mean to you?
  • Why does it matter?
  • Who did you have to become to achieve it?
  • What did you learn in the process?
  • How have you changed the world for generations to come?

Health/General Questions

Health/general questions play a crucial role in coaching by addressing various aspects of an individual’s well-being. These questions explore physical, mental, and emotional health, lifestyle choices, and self-care practices. Our analysis revealed that by delving into these areas, coaches can guide clients toward holistic health and empower them to make positive changes that enhance their overall well-being and quality of life.

  • Have you decided to take action or are you just hoping you will?
  • Are you angry or are you hurt?
  • Who can help you with this?
  • Does your current habitat fully support who you’re becoming?
  • What do you need in order to succeed here?
  • What plan do you need in order to achieve your new goals?
  • Are your personal standards high enough to reach your goals?
  • What might your family or friends suggest that you do? (Options)
  • What can you control about this situation? (Options)
  • What advice would you give someone else in a similar situation? (Options)
  • What’s your next step after today? (What Next)
  • How can you keep yourself on track with this? (What Next)
  • So what sport would you rather be playing?
  • I would go for If your sadness indicated that it was high time you really took care of yourself as you would with your best friend ever, how can you really give yourself the ROYAL treat for which you really yearn?
  • What could you be losing, if you do nothing?
  • What could you do to worsen this problem?
  • What does fun mean to you?
  • What would be funny about the situation?
  • What can you do to make this more fun?
  • How do you want it to be?
  • How could this be more fun for others?
  • Do you want this for its own sake or are you trying to avoid something else?
  • Is this giving you energy or draining your energy?
  • What will really make the biggest difference here?
  • Is this a limitation or is it a strength?
  • What’s the benefit of this problem?
  • Who else is this hurting?
  • What does your intuition tell you about this?
  • Do you have a gut feeling about this?
  • What rules do you have that are getting in the way?
  • How long have you been thinking about this?
  • If you changed your belief about this, what would be possible?
  • Is this a decision or a pipe dream?
  • Which of your core values does this goal express?
  • Is this goal pulling you forward or are you struggling to reach it?
  • Will this choice move you forward or keep you stuck?
  • What’s the first step you need to take to reach your goal?
  • What’s the worst that can happen, and can you handle that?
  • What’s the downside of your dream?
  • What’s stopping you from taking action?
  • Who wouldn’t like it if you succeeded?
  • What will you have to give up in order to make room for your goals?
  • How would your life be transformed if you changed this right now?
  • If you don’t change this, what will it cost you in the long run?
  • What’s the most resourceful choice here?
  • How can you improve this, so it adds value forever?
  • How can you solve this problem so it never comes back?
  • How could you have this conversation so it empowers everyone concerned?
  • What might make the difference that could change everything?
  • If you approached this with courage, how could your life change?
  • Are you procrastinating or is there a reason to delay?
  • What’s the emotional cost vs. the financial cost?
  • Which step could you take that would make the biggest difference, right now?
  • How can you get your needs fully met?
  • If your life were exclusively oriented around your values, what would that be like?
  • How would you describe the difference between a need and a value?
  • If you achieve this goal, will it bring lasting fulfillment or temporary pleasure?
  • Have you thought about the impact you’ll have by creating this?
  • If this weakness were also a strength, what would that be?
  • How can you use this so it becomes a benefit?
  • What will your impact be 100 years from now?
  • Who do you need to become in order to succeed here?
  • What are you responsible for here?
  • Instead of either/or, how could you use both?

Conclusion

So there you have it, the biggest, baddest coaching questions list ever!

Now I want to hear from you.

What do you think of this list?

Which was your favorite question?

Did I miss any?

Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are coaching questions?

The difference between a one-way interrogation and a dynamic learning session is asking the correct coaching questions. Good coaching questions allow to build rapport between coaches and clients.

What Are Powerful Coaching Questions?

Goal oriented questions are powerful tools as they help the coach posit thought-provoking questions for an engaging session.
What Are Some Examples Of Powerful Questions?
Examples of powerful questions are:
1. What do you really want?
2. What would you like to accomplish?
3. What result are you trying to achieve?
4. What outcome would be ideal?
5. What do you want to change?

What Are The Examples Of Powerful Questions?

Coaches ask questions that will help them dive into the psyche of the client. Rather than asking closed-ended questions, coaches pose open questions to get the conversation going while maintaining a tone that is non-judgmental.

What Kind Of Questions Do Coaches Ask?

Coaches ask questions that will help to dive into the psyche of the client. Rather than asking close-ended questions, coaches pose open questions to get the conversation going while maintaining a tone that is non-judgmental.

Why Is Asking Powerful Questions So Important In A Coaching Conversation?

In order to understand the problem of the client and subsequently tackle it, there needs to be a good rapport and trust between the coach and the client. Not only will asking the right questions help the coach understand what he/she needs to work on, the coaches also becomes an active participant in this self-improvement journey.

567 powerful coaching questions (Categorized + PDF)

Download a FREE PDF version of this coaching questions list…

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PDF version contains all of the content and resources found in the above guide.

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22 Comments

22 thoughts on “567 powerful coaching questions (Categorized + PDF)”

  1. This is exactly what it says it is, ‘the biggest, most comprehensive list of questions available anywhere’. Brilliant! Thank you, Sai!

    Reply
  2. My favourite set of questions is actually the one on ‘explore needs or desires’. So many powerful questions in there.

    Reply
  3. The questions on the career/work related category are so effective. I used a few from here yesterday and it really helped. Great job!

    Reply
  4. The questions on follow- up make so much sense. These questions can actually set a direction for your future sessions. Awesome!

    Reply
  5. ‘What is perfect about this?’ is such a brilliant question. I found myself asking myself the same thing. This was a fun read, thank you.

    Reply
  6. This in indeed quite an extensive list of questions I’ve ever come across. Can’t believe I just read it, you should be charging people for this work. Thanks a ton!

    Reply
  7. This is such a handy article. I feel like I’m going to use this a lot in my coaching business. Thank you, Sai for putting this out there!

    Reply
  8. Categorizing the questions like this is such a smart idea. These questions cover and can be used in almost all areas of coaching. Genius!

    Reply
  9. I don’t think you missed any since this list seems quite exhaustive, although maybe a separate category for relationships only? Just a suggestion.

    Reply
  10. Hi Coach foundation. I would like to ask your permission to includes these questions in my compilation to share it with my clients.. I’ll add credit to your site. Hopefully you’ll approve it. Thank you!

    Reply

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