CPC Goal Setting & Motivation Strategies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client sets a goal to 'be healthier.' What is the coach's BEST first step?
- Accept the goal as stated and begin action planning
- Help the client translate the vague goal into a specific, measurable outcome (Correct answer)
- Suggest the client consult a doctor before setting health goals
- Provide a list of standard health goals for the client to choose from
Correct answer: Help the client translate the vague goal into a specific, measurable outcome
Vague goals lack direction; a coach helps clients refine them into specific, measurable outcomes that guide action.
Question 2: Which motivational theory distinguishes between 'approach motivation' (moving toward a desired outcome) and 'avoidance motivation' (moving away from an undesired outcome)?
- Self-Determination Theory
- Regulatory Focus Theory (Correct answer)
- Expectancy Theory
- Goal-Setting Theory
Correct answer: Regulatory Focus Theory
Regulatory Focus Theory (Higgins) describes promotion focus (approach) and prevention focus (avoidance) as distinct motivational orientations.
Question 3: A client consistently abandons goals when progress slows. Which coaching intervention MOST directly addresses this pattern?
- Encourage the client to set easier goals
- Help the client build distress tolerance and reframe plateaus as normal
- Increase the frequency of coaching sessions
- Break goals into smaller milestones and celebrate each one (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Break goals into smaller milestones and celebrate each one
Breaking goals into milestones creates frequent reinforcement, sustaining motivation through slower progress periods.
Question 4: What does the 'T' in SMART goal framework stand for?
- Trackable
- Transparent
- Time-bound (Correct answer)
- Thorough
Correct answer: Time-bound
The 'T' in SMART stands for Time-bound, meaning the goal has a clear deadline or timeframe.
Question 5: A client says, 'I want to run a marathon because my spouse thinks I should.' From a Self-Determination Theory perspective, this goal reflects which type of motivation?
- Intrinsic motivation
- Identified regulation
- Introjected regulation
- External regulation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: External regulation
External regulation occurs when behavior is driven by external demands or rewards, such as satisfying a spouse's expectations.
Question 6: Which strategy BEST helps a client strengthen their belief that they can achieve a specific goal?
- Reminding them of how important the goal is
- Facilitating recall of past successes in similar domains (Correct answer)
- Assigning more challenging stretch goals
- Reducing the goal's scope to guarantee success
Correct answer: Facilitating recall of past successes in similar domains
Bandura's self-efficacy theory identifies mastery experiences (past successes) as the strongest source of efficacy beliefs.
Question 7: A client has a 6-month goal but no plan for the next week. Which coaching tool BEST bridges long-term vision and immediate action?
- Values clarification exercise
- Weekly action planning with a specific 'next step' (Correct answer)
- A vision board
- Strengths assessment
Correct answer: Weekly action planning with a specific 'next step'
Weekly action planning with a defined next step translates distant goals into concrete, near-term behaviors.
CPC Goal Setting & Motivation Strategies 2
A client sets a goal to 'be healthier.' What is the coach's BEST first step?