CPC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which of the following best describes 'deep work' as defined by Cal Newport? → Cognitively demanding tasks performed in a distraction-free state
2. What is the main purpose of goal setting? → To provide direction and motivate action
3. What is 'strategic renewal' in the context of energy management? → Planned recovery periods that restore energy and enhance long-term performance
4. What is the importance of positive reinforcement in personal motivation? → It boosts morale and encourages continued progress
5. In goal achievement coaching, what is 'goal contagion'? → The phenomenon where exposure to others' goals activates similar goals in oneself
6. Which motivational interviewing principle involves the coach reflecting back the client's own stated reasons for change? → Eliciting change talk
7. A client reports feeling overwhelmed by competing priorities. The FIRST step a productivity coach should take is to: → Acknowledge the client's feelings before exploring the situation
8. What is 'identity-based habit formation' as described by James Clear? → Shifting your self-concept so that the new habit aligns with who you believe you are
9. Which time management approach recommends grouping similar tasks together to minimize context-switching costs? → Task batching
10. A client consistently avoids working on their most important task until the end of the day. This pattern is BEST described as: → Procrastination driven by task aversion
11. How should a productivity coach most appropriately address a client reporting chronic fatigue despite getting adequate sleep? → Explore all four energy dimensions to identify non-physical energy drains causing fatigue
12. What does 'oscillation' mean in the context of the energy management model? → The rhythmic movement between energy expenditure and deliberate recovery
13. How can breaking down large tasks improve productivity? → It helps prioritize and focus on smaller tasks.
14. When setting up a project management system for a client, which approach best prevents a 'someday/maybe' list from becoming a graveyard of forgotten projects? → Review the someday/maybe list weekly and assign a review date to each item
15. Which concept describes the gap between a person's current state and their desired future state, used as a motivational tool in coaching? → Creative tension
16. How can reviewing and revising processes help improve organizational systems? → By improving efficiency and updating workflows
17. What is the main efficiency argument for standardizing folder structures across a team? → It allows any team member to find any document without asking, reducing interruptions
18. Which term describes replacing an unwanted habit with a more productive behavior using the same cue and reward? → Habit substitution (habit replacement)
19. A client has conflicting goals that seem to compete for the same time and energy. What should a coach do FIRST? → Help the client prioritize goals by clarifying values and relative importance
20. Which technique involves mentally simulating both the desired future outcome AND the obstacles between the present and that future? → Mental contrasting
21. How can prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance improve time management? → It ensures that critical tasks are completed in a timely manner.
22. What is the primary focus of energy management in productivity coaching? → Optimizing physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy to sustain high performance
23. Which scheduling principle suggests placing your highest-priority work during your personal peak energy hours? → Chronobiology-based scheduling
24. What is the primary risk of setting exclusively outcome goals without also setting process goals? → Focus shifts entirely to results, neglecting the behaviors that produce them
25. What is a benefit of using a task management system in a business? → It helps prioritize tasks and track progress
26. A productivity coach uses a 'not-to-do list' with a client primarily to: → Identify and eliminate recurring low-value behaviors that drain time and energy
27. Which organizational concept describes grouping similar tasks together to reduce the cognitive cost of context-switching? → Batching
28. What does 'accountability' mean in a productive coaching relationship? → The client takes ownership of their commitments and reports progress honestly
29. What is time blocking in time management? → Setting aside specific blocks of time for individual tasks or activities.
30. What is the purpose of a 'homework' or between-session action in productivity coaching? → To reinforce insights and build momentum toward client goals