Mixed Deck — All CBC Topics Flashcards

An executive coach is working with a leader who consistently micromanages their team. According to situational leadership theory, what should the coach help the leader recognize first?

Answer: The developmental readiness level of each team member

Situational leadership requires matching leadership style to each follower's competence and commitment level rather than applying one style universally.

How does the CBC code of ethics address the use of coaching tools or assessments?

Answer: Coaches must only use tools they are trained and qualified to administer

CBC standards require coaches to use only assessment tools and methods for which they have appropriate training and qualifications.

A client asks about the difference between fixed and variable costs. Which of the following is an example of a variable cost?

Answer: Raw materials used per unit produced

Raw materials consumed per unit produced are variable costs because they fluctuate directly in proportion to production or sales volume.

What is the CBC standard regarding a coach entering into a business relationship with a current coaching client?

Answer: It should be avoided as it creates a conflict of interest and blurs professional boundaries

CBC ethics prohibit or strongly discourage entering business relationships with current clients to prevent conflicts of interest and boundary violations.

How does accountability contribute to business success?

Answer: By ensuring responsibility and motivation

Accountability in business means individuals and teams take ownership of their tasks, decisions, and the resulting outcomes. This fosters a strong sense of responsibility, which in turn motivates employees to perform at their best and meet commitments. When individuals are accountable, it leads to greater commitment, improved performance, and ultimately, contributes significantly to overall business success.

Which question best helps a coach test whether a client's vision statement is effective?

Answer: Does it inspire and give clear direction to people across the organization?

An effective vision is concise, inspiring, and directional, motivating people toward a shared future rather than cataloguing details.

A team consistently reaches consensus quickly without examining alternatives, and dissenters stay silent. What phenomenon is the coach observing?

Answer: Groupthink

Groupthink occurs when the desire for harmony leads a team to suppress dissent and avoid critically evaluating alternatives.

A client's middle managers are blocking a change initiative because they fear losing authority. What is the MOST effective coaching-aligned strategy to address this resistance?

Answer: Involve the managers in shaping the change and clarify their future roles

Involving resisters in designing the change and addressing their role concerns converts fear into ownership.

An executive client wants to strengthen their strategic influence with the board. Which capability should coaching prioritize?

Answer: Framing recommendations around enterprise risk, value, and stakeholder priorities

Boards respond to enterprise-level framing of value and risk, so influence grows from strategic communication rather than operational detail.

A business coach is guiding a client whose employees are resisting a new CRM system. According to Kotter's 8-step model, what should the leadership team establish FIRST?

Answer: A sense of urgency around why the change matters

Kotter's model begins with creating a sense of urgency so people understand why change is necessary now.

In succession planning, which practice most strengthens an organization's long-term leadership pipeline?

Answer: Identifying and developing high-potential employees for key roles years in advance

Proactive identification and development of internal talent ensures continuity in critical roles.

In team coaching, what distinguishes coaching the team as a system from coaching individual members?

Answer: The focus is on collective dynamics, interactions, and shared goals rather than personal development

Systemic team coaching treats the team as one entity, targeting its collective dynamics and shared outcomes.

Which of the following best defines accountability in the workplace?

Answer: Taking responsibility for actions and outcomes

Accountability is the obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and disclose the results in a transparent manner. In the workplace, it specifically means owning one's decisions, tasks, and the consequences that follow, rather than shifting blame or avoiding duties. This fosters trust, reliability, and a strong work ethic within a team.

What distinguishes powerful questions from ordinary questions in business coaching?

Answer: They are open-ended and provoke reflection, insight, and new possibilities

Powerful questions are open-ended and expand the client's thinking rather than confirm facts or steer answers.

When contracting a team coaching engagement, why should the coach agree on success measures with both the team and its sponsor upfront?

Answer: It aligns expectations and enables objective evaluation of the engagement's impact

Upfront success measures align the coach, team, and sponsor on outcomes and allow the engagement's impact to be evaluated objectively.

Which behavior demonstrates a CBC coach's commitment to ongoing professional development?

Answer: Pursuing continuing education, mentoring, and reflective practice regularly

CBC professional standards expect coaches to actively pursue continuous learning to maintain and enhance their competence over time.

Which tool is commonly used for performance tracking in business coaching?

Answer: Performance scorecard

A performance scorecard is a structured tool used to track and report on an individual's or team's performance against a set of predefined metrics and goals. It provides a clear, visual representation of progress, highlighting strengths and areas needing improvement. This systematic approach makes it an effective tool for monitoring performance and facilitating discussions in business coaching, ensuring objective evaluation.

In distributive negotiation, what is primarily being negotiated?

Answer: A fixed amount of value that parties divide between them

Distributive negotiation is a zero-sum split of a fixed pie of value.

A coach helps an executive prepare to lead a major organizational change. According to Kotter's model, what must come before communicating the change vision?

Answer: Creating a sense of urgency and building a guiding coalition

Kotter's eight steps begin with establishing urgency and forming a guiding coalition before developing and communicating the vision.

Which CBC coaching model step comes after the coach and client have identified the desired outcome?

Answer: Assess the current reality or situation relative to the desired outcome

After clarifying the goal, the next step is to assess the current reality to understand what exists now versus what is desired.