The Power of Questions

This is part of a series of blog posts required as part of a Level 1 coaching certification course I am taking. In the spirit of sharing, I'm posting my reflections here in hopes that it may benefit one or two other people out there who might be pursuing or interested in pursuing this journey too.

In Module 12 of our coaching certification, we learned about "The Power of Questions." I've always been a curious person, so a whole session about questions resonated with me. I've realized for awhile now that asking the right questions can be the key to helping people see things clearly, understand themselves better, and find solutions.

As I reflected on the power of questions to unlock new insights, it reminded me of when I was a young manager, eager to help my team grow. I read about the technique of asking "Why?" three times, and it's stuck with me since. It's pretty simple: you ask "Why?" three times to dig deeper into a situation. This technique is like a spotlight, revealing the hidden motives behind what we say. "Why?" is already a powerful question - but asking it three times urges us to uncover the REAL underlying meanings behind our surface answers, pushing us to peel back layers and truly grasp the motivations behind our responses

I've also noticed that how we ask questions matters too. Sometimes, I jump in too fast with my own ideas, and I end up asking leading questions – those that guide the person to answer in a certain way. This can close off their real thoughts. It reminds me of a recent situation with a friend I faced, where she told me one thing, but later I found out she felt differently. When I asked her why she didn't tell me directly, she said she was worried about disappointing me. Of course, people are responsible for their own choices - but reflecting on that incident also made me realize how important it is on my end, as a coach, to create a space where people can be honest and open.

As a coach, I'm learning to ask questions that give people room to share. Open-ended questions that let them express themselves freely. It's about listening without assumptions and letting their story unfold naturally.