5.5 questions every coach should ask (to help overcome obstacles)
If you’re in the coaching profession, it means you’ve dedicated a substantial portion of your life to helping others become greater. You understand that being greater leads to more productivity and more to live for. And that’s beyond amazing. So, why wouldn’t you want to help your clients overcome obstacles?
I don’t mean solve their issues for them either; that would be a temporary fix (which can turn into frustration on their part and career uncertainty on your part!). Be a leader. Lead the way out of mental blockage. Lead the way towards confidence. Lead the way, so that your clients learn to face and fight what’s blocking their happiness. Finally.
You’ve got this!
For starters, ask your clients these five questions:
- Can you name your greatest achievement in life? How can your clients feel bad about their obstacles when they focus on something as positive as…I don’t know…the greatest achievement in their entire lives? Whether it’s childbirth, self-publishing a novel or landing the dream job, that greatest achievement is most likely to serve as a reminder of what’s still possible.
- What’s the one thing you’ve wanted to do, but haven’t? Doing something new or out of the ordinary usually helps us to overcome universal obstacles, such as fear. Who hasn’t put something on hold because fear set in? (Warning: this question could lead to goal-setting, so be prepared to help launch a vision board or a to-do list via Evernote!)
- Can you describe the last time you’ve compared yourself to others? Now we’re getting into the tougher questions! Thinking about how she is better looking, or how he is more successful than is counter-productive, as it can be time-consuming and simply pointless. It’s also a good way to keep the obstacles alive. You have to show your clients how being hard on themselves keeps them from a fulfilling life of new things and reached goals. And tell them to take a break from social media! Who really knows how the next person is really doing, beyond a posted picture or tweet? Please.
4a. Do you blame others for your problems? (4b. Why?) If your clients have been focusing on what others have done to them, instead of taking responsibility for their own dealings, they will continue to feel the weight of their obstacles.
5.How often do you use a daily planner? To overcome obstacles, a good idea is to have your clients see their potential through a planning tool. They’ll need to commit to what’s planned, but I’m sure you’re able to show them how to create a doable goal, according to where they are. It doesn’t take anything scientific at all: mobile calendars, Evernote (no I’m not a paid spokesperson of the app!) or an actual planner — they still sell them at most major retail outlets!
To help inspire your clients to face, fight and overcome their obstacles, start asking my five (point-five) questions. As I have shared earlier in the “open-ended questions” article (The Truth About Open Ended Questions), asking questions is the beginning of self-actualization and success. Of course, there are other questions that will begin the destruction of obstacles and the rebuilding of confidence. Share any questions you’d ask in the comments!
www.JavayJohnson.com
This is great Javay. Just planting the seed for me to think about my greatest accomplishments gives me so many ideas of how i can use that.
Please keep doing what you are doing. You are standing tall.