CT Coaching Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a key difference between coaching and mentoring?
- Coaching is always informal; mentoring is always formal
- Coaching focuses on performance goals; mentoring relies on the mentor's personal experience (Correct answer)
- Coaching requires subject-matter expertise; mentoring does not
- Mentoring is time-limited; coaching is ongoing
Correct answer: Coaching focuses on performance goals; mentoring relies on the mentor's personal experience
Coaching draws out solutions from the coachee, while mentoring typically involves a more experienced person sharing knowledge and advice.
Question 2: A trainer uses the technique of 'scaling questions' during coaching. What is the PRIMARY purpose?
- To measure training ROI numerically
- To help the coachee assess progress and identify next steps on a numeric scale (Correct answer)
- To rank multiple goals by importance
- To evaluate the coachee's competency level for certification
Correct answer: To help the coachee assess progress and identify next steps on a numeric scale
Scaling questions (e.g., 'On a scale of 1-10, where are you now?') help coachees self-assess and identify gaps between current and desired states.
Question 3: Which coaching approach is MOST appropriate when working with a highly experienced subject-matter expert who has a performance gap?
- Directive coaching, providing clear instructions
- Non-directive coaching, facilitating self-discovery (Correct answer)
- Peer coaching with a colleague at the same level
- E-learning modules for knowledge refreshers
Correct answer: Non-directive coaching, facilitating self-discovery
Experienced professionals often benefit most from non-directive coaching that respects their expertise while facilitating new insights.
Question 4: The term 'coachable moment' refers to:
- A scheduled coaching session on the calendar
- A spontaneous opportunity arising from real experience that is ideal for coaching (Correct answer)
- A formal performance review discussion
- A moment when the coach has free time available
Correct answer: A spontaneous opportunity arising from real experience that is ideal for coaching
A coachable moment is an unplanned, real-time opportunity triggered by an event that makes coaching particularly relevant and impactful.
Question 5: Which behavior MOST undermines psychological safety in a coaching relationship?
- Sharing observations without judgment
- Breaking confidentiality by reporting session content to management (Correct answer)
- Asking open-ended questions about failures
- Acknowledging the coachee's feelings
Correct answer: Breaking confidentiality by reporting session content to management
Violating confidentiality destroys the trust foundational to coaching, making coachees unwilling to be vulnerable or honest.
Question 6: A coach who consistently interprets a coachee's silence as resistance is MOST likely demonstrating:
- Accurate behavioral observation
- Confirmation bias (Correct answer)
- Effective use of intuition
- Strong pattern recognition
Correct answer: Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias leads coaches to interpret ambiguous behavior in a way that confirms preexisting assumptions rather than exploring actual meaning.
Question 7: In solution-focused coaching, the 'miracle question' is used to:
- Identify the root cause of a problem
- Help the coachee envision a desired future state free from the current problem (Correct answer)
- Test whether the coachee's expectations are realistic
- Evaluate what is working well currently
Correct answer: Help the coachee envision a desired future state free from the current problem
The miracle question ('If you woke up and the problem was solved, what would be different?') helps coachees articulate a vivid vision of success.
CT Coaching Techniques 3
Which of the following is a key difference between coaching and mentoring?