My 20 Favorite Questions to Ask Clients

You build trust and gain understanding through asking great questions. Asking the right questions greatly influences the success of a conversation.

Powerful questions help you identify real issues you might be avoiding, and recognize solutions you might be ignoring.

When I was going through the life coach certification process, I was encouraged to keep a list handy of my favorite questions. This list has been refined for over twenty years, and I still keep it handy for inspiration. 

Here are 5 things to keep in mind when asking questions.

1. Great questions often start with a "what" or a "how" and follow up with "can you give me an example?", or some form of "can you tell me more?"
2. Having 2 or 3 powerful questions prepared in advance eases anxiety.
3. Powerful questions are positive, clear, fun to ask, and future-oriented.
4. If I'm not genuinely curious about the answer, I shouldn't ask the question.
5. Great questions are open-ended. They don't lead to a "yes" or "no" answer; therefore, they challenge the other person to think.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
— Carl Jung

That is one reason I value good questions so much. The right question can bring hidden assumptions, fears, desires, and decisions into the light so you can actually do something with them.

I also talk through how to use better questions in this episode of the Decide Your Legacy podcast:

My 20 Favorite Questions to Ask Clients

Questions 1–10

1. What’s an issue you’re facing that, if you figured it out, would make a huge difference?
2. What opportunities do you have right now?
3. How would you act if you were 10 times bolder?

If boldness is an area you want to grow in, this article on the unexpected benefits of facing your fears can help.

4. Describe, in detail, your ideal life in 1, 3, 5, or 10 years.
5. How do you want to be remembered by those you love when you’re gone?
6. What changes do you need to make to have the life you want?
7. What does “success” in this area look like?
8. What’s important to you about accomplishing this?
9. What do you want?
10. What do you like about yourself, including your interests, life experiences, personality traits, and strengths?

Questions 11–20

11. What energizes you?
12. If you had success in this area in 90 days, what changes would you have made?
13. If you were more confident, how would people know?

If confidence is something you are working on, here are 18 ways to build self-confidence.

14. How can you view that differently? What’s another perspective?
15. What has worked in the past here?
16. What else? Please tell me more about that.
17. What support do you need? How can you get that support?
18. What would your ideal daily schedule look like?
19. If you are saying “yes” to that, what are you saying “no” to?
20. What would you do here if success were guaranteed?

Take the time to ask yourself each of these and write out your answers. Be honest with yourself. Self-honesty is one of the most challenging, revealing, and rewarding personal growth activities.

I hope these questions transform your life, the lives of your clients, and the lives of those you love.

Download My 45 Favorite Coaching Questions

Want the full list in one easy place? Download my PDF with these 20 questions plus 25 more of my favorite open-ended coaching questions.

Print it, save it, or keep it nearby before a coaching session, leadership conversation, one-on-one, or personal reflection time.

These are the kinds of questions that help people get honest, think more clearly, and take meaningful action.

Get the Free 45 Coaching Questions PDF

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