What are effective ways to explore your clients' interests and passions?

To uncover interests and values, I love using "powerful questions" that let the person explore themselves. Some examples are: - What would an ideal day look like? - What are you grateful for every day? - What things could you not live without? - What would you do with a magic wand? - What do you value about your relationships? - What would you like people to say at your funeral? - If time and money weren't an issue, what would you do? - Tell me about someone you admire. What inspires you about that person? From here, then we can explore how to express these values in action.

Open ended questions have worked wonders for me, while exploring clients interests and understanding their way of thinking. More than that show genuine interest when they are sharing their thoughts and life story, be engaged in conversation, laugh together and ask simple and effective questions.

I appreciate being able to leverage tools like Extended DiSC, Strengths Finder, Circle of Personal Perspective and VIA Signature Strengths. These can help foster aha’s and open communication. You can see when people like up and begin to step into possibility with them!

using assessments and tools can help but like all tools, they have their own limitations. The results of assessments need to be interpreted with some care. The act of going through assessments for the client is an important exercise in itself as it helps them develop their own self awareness of their situation and needs. If a client does not agree with an assessment's result, that provides a basis for exploration between the client and the coach.

In my coaching practice, utilizing assessments and tools, particularly MBTI or DISC, adds a structured dimension to exploring clients' interests and passions. These tools provide a framework to understand their personality traits, communication styles, and preferences. For instance, through a detailed MBTI session, clients gain insights into their preferences, such as introversion or extroversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling. This nuanced understanding helps tailor discussions around their interests and passions, fostering a more targeted and effective coaching experience.

Another way to get them started is start sharing my own life stories and experiences when they start to relate the coachee will feel excited to share thier thoughts... as mentor its important to lead by the role.

Ask people what they're thinking about. After they answer, talk about that topic. Set aside your own conversation goals for a bit. Spend 5-10 minutes discussing whatever they bring up, like family, work, or anything else. Just listen and value what they say.

Encouraging experimentation is a key strategy in unveiling clients' interests and passions. I advocate for a hands-on approach, urging clients to explore new activities, projects, or even hobbies aligned with their potential interests. This experiential learning not only provides valuable insights into their genuine passions but also allows them to discover untapped talents. By fostering a culture of experimentation, clients can confidently navigate and embrace the facets of their professional and personal lives that truly resonate with their passions.

The experimentation is always intended to help the client to explore in a safe environment between the client and coach. It highlights what factors are front of mind in how a client reacts to new unknown situations and scenarios.

From working with executives over the past 25+ years, I find that it is important to approach these explorations with genuine curiosity and a desire to understand my clients on a personal level. Three effective and unique ways I use to uncover and understand my clients' interests are: 1. Personalized surveys or assessments (e.g., Gallup Strengths). 2. Storytelling and narrative exploration (e.g., asking open-ended questions that prompt them to reflect on significant moments in their lives, both inside and outside of their professional careers). 3. Interactive workshops or activities (e.g., organizing interactive workshops or activities that allow clients to engage in hands-on experiences related to different areas of interest).

Celebrating and supporting clients in their pursuits is a crucial step in the exploration of interests and passions. When clients identify and pursue their genuine interests, it's essential to acknowledge and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small. Recognition reinforces their commitment and boosts confidence. Additionally, providing ongoing support, whether through coaching sessions or resources, ensures a continuous and positive journey of self-discovery. Celebrating milestones and offering unwavering support create an environment where clients feel empowered to explore, refine, and fully embrace their passions.

Recognise the importance of celebrating every success, regardless of its size. This practice is especially effective in challenging the mindset of feeling like "I haven't done much" or "I haven't achieved enough." By consistently acknowledging and celebrating even the smallest accomplishments, it serves as a powerful countermeasure to this limiting perspective.

I love utilizing visioning exercises. Most high-achievers focus on driving tangible goals and milestones to feel successful vs. focusing on a whole-life approach. Visualization enables clients to envision a 360 view of their life and success. It allows the coach and coachee a more expansive view of passions, interests, and values.

You can do all of the above, but at the end of the day: hire good people. When you have people who are passionate about getting the work done, including finding out the passions of your clients, it just works.

Don't just coach the problem you hear. The real insight and action comes from coaching the person and their relation to the problem.