Powerful coaching questions don’t come from having the “right script.” They come from presence—the ability to listen deeply and respond with curiosity.
Asking the right question at the right time can spark insight, shift a mindset, and move someone from thought to action. But to get there, you need to know what to ask, when to do it, and how to hold the silence that follows.
Ahead, we’ve identified ten questions with the power to bring curiosity, courage, and compassion into every coaching conversation. To help you embrace them with confidence, we’ve provided guidance on why they work and when to use them.
#1: “What are you yearning for?”
Why it’s powerful: This question helps clients connect with what they truly desire, not what they think they should want. It invites emotion, longing, and authenticity—the deeper currents beneath surface goals.
When to ask: Use it early in a session to help your client get to the core of what they need. Or to shift the client from focusing on the obstacles to focusing on what they want.
How to respond: Pause. Let the client sit with the question. Resist jumping in or rephrasing. Their first answer may be guarded; real insight often arrives after the initial silence.
#2: “What’s the real challenge for you here?”
Why it’s powerful: This question brings focus to the conversation and creates ownership. Instead of circling around circumstances, it prompts the client to reflect on their internal roadblocks or patterns.
When to ask: Pull this one out when clients are venting, overwhelmed, or stuck in storytelling.
How to respond: Reflect back what you hear with curiosity, i.e., “So it sounds like the real challenge might be trusting yourself here?” Then, see what unfolds.
#3: “What would you do if you were ten times bolder?”
Why it’s powerful: This question energizes clients by inviting them to dream. It gives them permission to imagine themselves without fear or self-censorship.
When to ask: When a client is hesitating on a big decision or underestimating their own capacity.
How to respond: Smile, stay quiet, and let them dream aloud. You can bring it back to reality with, “What part of that vision might you choose right now?”
#4: “What are you pretending not to know?”
Why it’s powerful: This question gently exposes avoidant tendencies and thinking. Most people know what they need—they just aren’t ready to admit it yet.
When to ask: When clients say, “I don’t know,” it’s a good idea to ask this question.
How to respond: Deliver this question gently and be patient for a response. If they stay silent, hold the space. The insight will come.
#5: “What in this situation can you be grateful for?”
Why it’s powerful: This prompt helps clients reframe challenges as opportunities, reducing resistance and opening the door to growth.
When to ask: Ask this question after a client has expressed frustration or disappointment. Gratitude works best once emotion has been acknowledged.
How to respond: Don’t rush to optimism. Let them find genuine gratitude, not a forced silver lining.
#6: “What would it take to move you forward?”
Why it’s powerful: It encourages agency and exploration rather than pressure. Instead of “Will you do it?” this question invites curiosity about what’s needed for commitment.
When to ask: When clients are wavering on a decision or struggling with accountability, you can use this question to inspire a next step by expanding who they need to become not simply what they need to do..
How to respond: Listen for what might be holding them back—fear, uncertainty, or a lack of support—and explore those barriers together.
#7: “What needs to become clear for you?”
Why it’s powerful: This question shifts the focus from overthinking to awareness. It invites clients to pause before taking action.
When to ask: When a conversation feels scattered or the next step isn’t obvious, lean on this question to bring clarity to the discussion.
How to respond: Slow the pace. Ask follow-ups like, “What do you notice as you think about that?” to help them surface insight gradually.
#8: “What’s the benefit of staying where you are?”
Why it’s powerful: The idea here is to reveal hidden payoffs that keep clients from changing (comfort, safety, familiarity, etc.). Understanding those benefits is the first step to letting them go.
When to ask: When clients say they want change but continue repeating old patterns, this question can help break the cycle.
How to respond: Stay nonjudgmental. Lean into curiosity, not confrontation, to help them see the unconscious trade-offs at play.
#9: “What is this calling forth for you?”
Why it’s powerful: This question connects challenge with growth. It invites clients to consider not just what they’ll do differently, but who they’ll become through it.
When to ask: During transition points or moments of resistance, when a client feels stretched or uncertain, this prompt can help them acknowledge their feelings and thoughts.
How to respond: Honor the depth of the question. Let silence work, and acknowledge whatever truth surfaces.
Asking Powerful Questions is a Coaching Skill
Like any skill, the ability to ask the right question at the right time grows with practice. Every time you meet with a peer or client, you have a chance to lean into your curiosity, strengthen your active listening skills, and deepen your impact.
Looking for more? Explore the Co-Active Toolkit next.
This resource offers frameworks and exercises to help you grow, whether you’re coaching clients, leading teams, or simply having more intentional conversations.
Or, keep reading: From Skill to Impact: How to Be a Great Coach