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The Power of Focus Questions – Get clients back on track
(Free Life Coaching Resource)
Every coaching client has their own way of responding to questions and questioning techniques. While some may answer succinctly and need in depth and follow-up questions to open up, others dive into a stream of words that’s hard to interrupt.
In these instances, clients can easily get off track, jumping from topic to topic and losing sight of the core issue.
The coach’s challenge here is gently guiding the client back to the main focus without offending. Finding the right moment to redirect the conversation can be challenging.
By using the right questions, coaches can effectively steer the focus in coaching sessions, enhancing the quality and efficiency of discussions.
Let’s break it down with a practical example:
Imagine a client like Max Muster seeking to enhance his time management skills.
Max Muster: “I’ve noticed I’m not utilizing my time effectively. I start my day at the office, and before I know it, it’s lunchtime with little accomplished. I know I need to work on my time management.”
Max ponders ways to optimize his time and recalls a recent weekend getaway with friends. The tales of their action-packed trip spark thoughts on work-life balance. This leads to reflections on needing more time for such rejuvenating excursions.
Transitioning from work-life balance, Max delves into the importance of energizing hobbies, particularly his love for sailing and how it helps him disconnect.
At this point, it’s evident Max has strayed far from the initial topic of managing his time. The goal is to gently guide the conversation back to its essence using a focus question.
A coach’s role is to structure and direct the dialogue. When you notice the client going off track, ask a question that realigns the focus.
Examples of Focus Questions – A Great Resource for any Coach:
- You mentioned how crucial your hobby is for work-life balance. How might better structuring your work hours allow more time for your hobbies?
- Reflecting on your weekend planning efficiency, are there lessons you could apply to organizing your workday?
- How would mastering time management akin to how you handle leisure activities impact your work satisfaction and performance?
- Could we adapt any strategies from your weekend planning to help prioritize work tasks and enhance your time management skills?
A practical approach for crafting focus questions when clients stray is through the ‘bridging technique.’ Actively listen for key themes indirectly related to the core topic in the client’s narrative.
Ask open-ended questions using these themes as bridges to guide the conversation back on track while encouraging reflection.
