Communication Techniques & Active Listening Flashcards
7 cards from real IAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Communication Techniques & Active Listening flashcards as text
A coach notices they are feeling bored during a session. Per IAC communication standards, what is the best response?
Answer: Use the feeling as data — it may signal something important is not being addressed
The coach's internal experience, including boredom, can be a signal worth exploring — perhaps the client is avoiding something significant.
What is 'trailing' in the context of active listening coaching techniques?
Answer: Repeating the last few words the client said to invite further elaboration
Trailing (or 'minimal encouragers with trailing') echoes the client's last phrase to draw them deeper without the coach directing the content.
Which practice best supports a coach in sustaining high-quality listening across a full session?
Answer: Arriving fully prepared and clearing personal distractions before the session begins
Coaches who prepare mentally and minimize distractions before the session can maintain genuine presence more consistently throughout.
A client says, 'I just don't think I'm cut out for leadership.' A reframe might be:
Answer: 'What if your hesitation about leadership is actually a sign of the self-awareness great leaders need?'
A reframe shifts the client's perspective by offering a new interpretation of the same evidence without dismissing or arguing with their experience.
What is the significance of 'acknowledgment' as a communication skill in IAC coaching?
Answer: It recognizes who the client is being, not just what they are doing
IAC acknowledgment goes deeper than praise — it witnesses and names a quality of character or being that the client demonstrated.
When a client gives a very short, guarded response, which communication move is most appropriate?
Answer: Using a brief reflective observation or silence to invite deeper sharing
A gentle reflection or pause can create safety and invitation for clients who are hesitant, without pressuring or overwhelming them.
What is 'metaphor exploration' and why is it valuable in coaching communication?
Answer: Following the client's own metaphor to help them access deeper meaning and new perspectives
When clients use metaphors (e.g., 'I'm stuck in a tunnel'), exploring that image on its own terms can unlock insight inaccessible through literal conversation.