Foundational Concepts & Principles Flashcards

Which coaching principle emphasizes that clients are the experts on their own lives?

Answer: Client autonomy and self-determination

A foundational coaching principle holds that clients are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole — meaning they possess the answers and the coach facilitates discovery rather than prescribing solutions.

In the ICF coaching competency framework, 'maintaining presence' primarily refers to:

Answer: Being fully conscious and creating a spontaneous relationship with the client

Maintaining presence means being fully conscious, open, flexible, and grounded, and creating a spontaneous relationship with the client that allows the coach to respond fully.

The concept of 'beginner's mind' in leadership coaching encourages the coach to:

Answer: Approach each client situation without assumptions or preconceptions

Beginner's mind means approaching each client interaction with openness and curiosity, setting aside assumptions so the coach can truly listen and see the situation freshly.

A leadership coach who 'holds the client's agenda' is doing which of the following?

Answer: Keeping the coaching focused on the client's own goals and outcomes

Holding the client's agenda means ensuring coaching conversations remain focused on what the client wants to achieve rather than what the coach believes is important.

Which of the following best describes 'co-creating the relationship' in leadership coaching?

Answer: Jointly establishing a partnership and working agreement with the client

Co-creating the relationship involves the coach and client jointly defining how they will work together, building a genuine partnership rooted in mutual trust and respect.

The distinction between coaching and therapy is most accurately described as:

Answer: Coaching focuses on the future and performance; therapy addresses psychological disorders and the past

Coaching is forward-focused and performance-oriented, working with healthy individuals to reach goals, while therapy addresses psychological disorders, trauma, and mental health treatment.

In a certified leadership coaching context, 'accountability' between sessions typically means:

Answer: The client reports back on actions they committed to at the last session

Between-session accountability in coaching involves the client following through on self-set commitments and reporting progress, reinforcing ownership and momentum.