The Coach’s Toolkit: 68 Questions to Transform Your Coaching Sessions

As a coach, knowing how to ask the right questions is like holding a map in uncharted territory. But how do we know what question to ask, and when? 

In coach training you’ll spend time mastering this skill, but for now –  think of each question as either a flashlight or a mirror. 

When you ask your client a good question it’s an invitation for exploration, understanding, and connection. As a coach, whether you're aiming to light the way for someone lost in the fog, help someone find the missing piece of their puzzle, or simply offer a moment of genuine reflection, good questions are your companions on that journey. 

In this post, we’ve compiled a list of coaching questions to get those juices flowing. What follows was sourced in part from the Lumia student and graduate community – you can check out some of our amazing coaches here. Use the following questions to stoke curiosity, shake up your usual ways of seeing the world, and encourage you to venture deeper into the human experience.

More Resources: 

How Does Asking Better Questions Lead to a Better Life?

The Art of Asking Questions

Self-Discovery and Personal Growth

1. Danielle Cosme: "What’s the biggest change you would like to see now for yourself?"
2. How do you define success, and how will you know when you've achieved it?
3. What are your greatest strengths, and how can you utilize them more in your daily life?
4. Nedda M: "What do you imagine your life might look like if you released everyone else’s expectations of you?"
5. What beliefs might be holding you back, and how can you challenge them?
6. What does your ideal day look like, and what steps can you take to make it a reality?
7. Jessica Ringgenberg: "What would it feel like if you trusted yourself and the path you are on?"
8. How do you recharge, and are you making enough time for it?
9. Nasimeh B.E.: "If anything was possible, what would you want to see occur?"
10. What values are most important to you and how do they guide your life?
11. What are the top three things you would like to achieve this year, and why?
12. Carol Chan: "If failure wasn’t an option, what would you do? Who would you be?"
13. What are you most grateful for, and how does gratitude impact your life?

Reflection and Self-Awareness

14. Shannon Rasimas: "Will this matter in five minutes, five weeks, five months, or five years?"
15. Malorie Burden: "In terms of your dream life, what are 3 emotions that you'd like to feel on a consistent basis? 
16. Malorie Burden: “What would little you and future you want you to know in this current moment?"
17. Lisa Tankersley: "What is circling in your mind today?"
18. Alexis Burnett: "What will you take away from this?"

Relationships and Social Connections

19. Who has been the most influential person in your life, and why?
20. Felix Boecker: "How would your best friend introduce you to a powerful person?"
21. What qualities do you value most in your relationships?
22. How do you express love and appreciation to those around you?
23. In what ways do you need support from others, and have you communicated this to them?
24. How do you deal with conflict, and what strategies could improve your approach?
25. What does a healthy relationship look like to you, and how does that compare to your current relationships?

Career and Professional Development

26. What motivates you in your work?
27. What skills would you like to develop or improve?
28. How do you handle stress and pressure at work?
29. What does work-life balance mean to you, and how close are you to achieving it?
30. How do you define professional success, and how does it align with your personal values?
31. What legacy do you want to leave in your professional field?
    

Creativity and Innovation

32. When do you feel most creative, and how can you incorporate more of that into your routine?
33. What project have you been dreaming about, and what's stopping you from starting?
34. How do you overcome creative blocks or challenges?
35. How do you play?
36. How do you nurture your inner artist?
37. What do you do for yourself, alone, to create or make?
38. In what ways can you foster a culture of innovation within your team or organization?
39. How can challenging your assumptions lead to creative breakthroughs?

Health and Wellness

40. How do you prioritize your health and wellness, and what changes would you like to make?
41. What does being healthy mean to you, and how does it affect your daily life?
42. How do you stay active, and how does physical activity impact your mood and energy levels?
43. What are your sleep habits like, and how do they affect your overall well-being?
44. How can integrating mindfulness into your daily routine improve your overall health?

Financial Well-being

45. How do you feel about your current financial situation, and what improvements would you like to make?
46. What are your financial goals, and what plan do you have in place to achieve them?
47. How does your spending align with your values, and where could adjustments be made?
48. What financial habits would you like to develop this year to enhance your financial well-being?

Life Transitions and Decision Making

49. What major life changes are you currently facing, and how are you navigating them?
50. How do you make difficult decisions, and what could help you make those decisions more confidently?
51. Looking back, what decision are you most proud of, and what did it teach you?
52. How can reflecting on past successes and failures inform your current decision-making process?
53. In what ways can seeking diverse perspectives aid in your decision-making?

Legacy and Impact

54. What impact do you want to have on the world or your community?
55. How do you want to be remembered, and what are you doing to create that legacy?
56. What causes are you passionate about, and how are you contributing to them?
57. Hope Henchey: "What does flourishing mean to you? Who is a person you know who you would say is flourishing and what are some of their traits that you wish to have in your own life?"
58. Heather Bates: "By solving for one piece of the problem or pain point, what impact or ripple effect will that have on the overall problem or the bigger picture?"

Mindfulness and Presence

59. How do you practice mindfulness or presence in your daily life?
60. In moments of stress, how do you bring yourself back to the present?
61. What daily or weekly practice could you introduce to increase your sense of presence?
62. How does being present change your interactions with others?
63. What's one activity that helps you feel most grounded and connected to the moment?

Exploration and Adventure

64. What new skill or hobby would you like to explore, and what's the first step you can take?
65. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go, and what would you hope to discover?
66. What adventure brings up some resistance within you, and what does that say about your boundaries or limits?
67.  How can venturing outside your comfort zone enhance your personal growth?
68.  If you could master one skill you don't currently have, what would it be and why?

More Resources:
Coaching Conversation Techniques to Move Your Client Forward
Coaching Mastery: 7 Powerful Questions for Coaching Clients
Coaching Questions that Move the Dial

Questions are invitations—to think, to feel, to explore, and ultimately, to grow. They prompt us to look within and around, to dissect and to rebuild, to dream and to begin to make a plan to do. 

As you reflect on these questions, remember that the answers are not always immediate, nor are they static. They evolve as you do. 

These questions are meant to create ideas, challenge assumptions, and be a bit of inspiration as you navigate as a coach. May you find in them the sparks that light your way to a more authentic, fulfilled, and purposeful existence.

Ready to Learn How to Ask Questions, as a Coach?

One of our values at Lumia is that we dare to be different. Our life coaches ignore the expectations society tries to impose on them, and seek to live from their own truth instead. If you are ready to step into your power and you’d like a partner in the process, come check out Lumia Life Coach Training. Grounded in science, our ICF accredited program features authentic instructors, a robust curriculum, and business instruction to prepare you for liftoff.

‍Lumia Coaching: Vibrant community. Evidence-based life coach training. Lifetime support.