CPI Coaching & Feedback Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The '70-20-10' learning model suggests that approximately what percentage of development comes from coaching and mentoring relationships?
- 70%
- 10%
- 20% (Correct answer)
- 30%
Correct answer: 20%
The 70-20-10 model attributes roughly 20% of development to coaching, mentoring, and social learning from others.
Question 2: Which behavior by an instructor MOST undermines the coaching relationship?
- Asking the learner to set their own improvement goals
- Providing feedback inconsistently based on the instructor's mood (Correct answer)
- Scheduling regular one-on-one coaching sessions
- Using role-play to practice new skills
Correct answer: Providing feedback inconsistently based on the instructor's mood
Inconsistent feedback based on the instructor's emotional state destroys trust and makes it impossible for the learner to calibrate their performance.
Question 3: When a learner says 'I don't know' in response to a reflective coaching question, the BEST response is to:
- Provide the answer to move the session forward
- Rephrase the question and give the learner more time to reflect (Correct answer)
- Document that the learner lacks insight and escalate
- Switch to a different topic to reduce discomfort
Correct answer: Rephrase the question and give the learner more time to reflect
Rephrasing and allowing silence gives the learner time to engage in genuine reflection rather than shutting down the coaching process prematurely.
Question 4: Feedforward, as opposed to traditional feedback, focuses on:
- Documenting past errors for performance reviews
- Providing specific suggestions for future improvement rather than dwelling on past mistakes (Correct answer)
- Comparing a learner's performance to peer benchmarks
- Summarizing all feedback from a training cycle
Correct answer: Providing specific suggestions for future improvement rather than dwelling on past mistakes
Feedforward is a future-oriented technique that offers constructive suggestions for improvement without rehashing past failures.
Question 5: An instructor is coaching a learner who is visibly anxious before a performance evaluation. The FIRST coaching priority should be to:
- Walk through all evaluation criteria in detail
- Address the anxiety by normalizing it and using calming techniques (Correct answer)
- Postpone the evaluation until the learner feels ready
- Assign additional practice time immediately before the evaluation
Correct answer: Address the anxiety by normalizing it and using calming techniques
Addressing anxiety first ensures the learner's emotional state does not interfere with their ability to demonstrate actual competence during evaluation.
Question 6: Which element distinguishes coaching from mentoring in a training context?
- Coaching is always group-based while mentoring is individual
- Coaching focuses on specific performance skills while mentoring addresses broader career and professional development (Correct answer)
- Mentoring is short-term while coaching is long-term
- Coaching requires a formal credential while mentoring does not
Correct answer: Coaching focuses on specific performance skills while mentoring addresses broader career and professional development
Coaching targets specific, measurable skill performance, while mentoring typically addresses broader professional growth, values, and career navigation.
Question 7: When a learner successfully applies a new skill, the instructor should provide reinforcing feedback:
- Only at the end of the training program to avoid interrupting practice
- Immediately and specifically to strengthen the correct behavior (Correct answer)
- In writing only to create a formal record
- Through peers rather than directly to avoid dependency on instructor praise
Correct answer: Immediately and specifically to strengthen the correct behavior
Immediate and specific reinforcing feedback strengthens neural pathways associated with correct performance and increases the likelihood of skill retention.
CPI Coaching & Feedback Techniques 3
The '70-20-10' learning model suggests that approximately what percentage of development comes from coaching and mentoring relationships?