The process of questioning and discovery in coaching

Questioning is an important process in facilitating learning in coaching. Questioning drives the process of discovery by triggering client reflection. Quite simply, questioning in coaching simply forces people to really think.

The process of questioning in coaching is a process of going deeper as coaches, whether consciously or unconsciously, consistently apply a framework of questioning which hones in on particular dimensions of their awareness. In personal/life coaching for example, questioning probes the aspects of clients’ self-knowledge:
 

 

While there may appear to be a trend in the order of questions, leading from left to right, this is not always the case and coaches do not question clients about every aspect. Indeed, the process of listening influences the process of questioning, as that which is heard (which often stems from the above aspects), is questioned to trigger clients to reflect more deeply.

 

Reference:

Griffiths, K. (2008). Discovering, applying and integrating self-knowledge: A grounded theory study of learning in life coaching (Ph.D). Centre for Learning Innovation, Queensland University of Technology.