Business Coaching and the Myth of ‘The Powerful Question’

Some lessons learned from coaching practice

Last August, I started a diploma in business coaching, and I’m really enjoying the learning journey so far.

Before, my pre-conceived ideas about coaching were inaccurate.

In particular, I believed one myth around ‘asking a powerful question’.

I believed coaching conversations had a fulcrum, with client insight unlocked at exactly the right moment by a coach asking a powerful question.

I thought coaches had lists of powerful questions like these, written to generate insight and to amaze their clients.

I have learned that these ideas are just not true.

For a moment and for fun, just imagine what that would look like in a coaching conversation:

The coach allowed a pause, graciously helping the client to realise that the coach was going to do something awesome now.

Arching an eyebrow, the coach said “what do you think the answer is?” and with a flourish, pointed an out-stretched index finger at the client.

A pause, then…

“Wow!’ said the client. “I never thought about it that way!”