How can you use the Socratic questioning technique to improve your coaching?

1 What is Socratic questioning?

Socratic questioning is a form of dialogue that uses open-ended questions to explore a topic, challenge assumptions, expose contradictions, and reveal underlying values and beliefs. It is named after the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, who used this technique to teach his students and expose the flaws of his opponents. Socratic questioning is not about giving answers, but about asking questions that lead to deeper understanding and insight.

2 Why is Socratic questioning effective for coaching?

Socratic questioning is effective for coaching because it helps your clients develop their own solutions, rather than relying on your advice or direction. By asking questions that encourage your clients to reflect on their situation, goals, actions, and outcomes, you help them discover their own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You also help them identify and challenge any limiting beliefs, assumptions, or biases that may be holding them back or preventing them from seeing new possibilities. Socratic questioning also fosters a collaborative and respectful relationship between you and your clients, as you show genuine curiosity and interest in their perspectives, rather than judging or imposing your own.

3 How to apply Socratic questioning in your coaching?

To apply Socratic questioning in your coaching, you need to follow some basic guidelines. First, you need to have a clear purpose and focus for your questions, based on your client's goals and needs. Second, you need to use open-ended questions that start with words like what, how, why, when, where, who, or which, rather than closed-ended questions that can be answered with yes or no. Third, you need to follow up your questions with probing questions that dig deeper into the details, implications, or consequences of your client's responses. Fourth, you need to listen actively and attentively to your client's answers, and reflect back what you hear to check for understanding and clarity. Fifth, you need to avoid leading or suggestive questions that imply a certain answer or direction, and instead use neutral or positive language that invites exploration and discovery.

4 Examples of Socratic questions for coaching

To provide some ideas of how to use Socratic questioning in your coaching, here are examples of questions you can ask your clients, depending on the stage of the coaching process. During goal setting, ask them what they want to achieve and why it is important to them. Also, inquire about how they will measure their success and the benefits and costs of pursuing this goal. To get a reality check, ask them about their current situation and what the facts and evidence are, as well as any challenges and obstacles. For options generation, pose questions such as what are some possible ways to achieve the goal and what are the pros and cons of each option. To create an action plan, ask what steps need to be taken to implement the chosen option, when each step should start and finish, and what support or resources are needed. Lastly, for review and feedback inquire about what has been done so far, what has been learned, which actions worked well or not, and what results or outcomes have been achieved.

5 Benefits of Socratic questioning for coaching

Using Socratic questioning in your coaching can bring many benefits for both you and your clients, such as enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, increasing self-awareness and self-confidence, empowering autonomy and responsibility, strengthening the coaching relationship, and enriching the coaching practice. Through Socratic questioning, your clients learn to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information and ideas to discover their own values, beliefs, motivations, and capabilities. It also creates a trusting and supportive environment where they can take ownership of their goals, decisions, and actions while holding themselves accountable for their results. Finally, it allows you to use your curiosity and creativity to ask meaningful and impactful questions that inspire and challenge your clients.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?