A good question and one that provokes in me an instant answer of…none! It is the coaches job to ask questions and explore ideas, maybe even offer some alternative options but in my opinion it is never to provide any type of direction or solution. This needs to come from the person being coached, they need to identify it and want it for themselves. A skilled coach will ask the right questions and use the right tools in assisting a client but ultimately it is the client that pulls all the coaching threads together and finds a way of making it work for them.


Last year I coached a business owner who was facing a huge decision within his business. He said that he had been over the situation again and again and could see no clear way forward. During that coaching session he went on to identify seven options that he had never even considered. The use of coaching questions can’t be underestimated; it is all about opening up the issues and exploring them fully. For me coaching is less about directing and more about offering a fresh pair of eyes to take a look through.