CLC Communication & Active Listening Skills 2

Question 1

A coaching client frequently interrupts you mid-sentence. As a leadership coach, what is the BEST first response?

Accepted Answer

Pause and allow them to finish, then revisit your point

Answer

Pausing and allowing the client to finish models respectful listening and keeps the coaching relationship safe.

Question 2

Which listening level involves paying attention to words, tone, and energy simultaneously?

Accepted Answer

Level 3 – Global listening

Answer

Global (Level 3) listening attends to the whole environment—words, tone, body language, and energy—beyond just the speaker's content.

Question 3

When a client says 'I guess I'm okay with that,' what active listening technique helps surface the underlying emotion?

Accepted Answer

Reflecting the ambivalence back: 'It sounds like you have some reservations'

Answer

Reflecting ambivalence invites the client to explore deeper feelings rather than suppressing them.

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of using silence strategically in a coaching conversation?

Accepted Answer

To create space for the client to process and go deeper

Answer

Strategic silence gives clients processing time and often prompts richer self-reflection than immediate follow-up questions.

Question 5

A leadership coach notices their client is speaking quickly and using short, clipped sentences. What does this non-verbal cue most likely indicate?

Accepted Answer

The client may be experiencing stress or urgency

Answer

Rapid, clipped speech often signals elevated stress or urgency that the coach should acknowledge and explore.

(CLC) Certified Leadership Coach Practice Test