IAC Advanced Questioning Techniques 2

Question 1

A client says 'I always fail when I try something new.' Which questioning technique best challenges this absolute thinking?

Accepted Answer

Ask 'What evidence do you have that you always fail?'

Answer

Asking for evidence challenges absolute language and helps the client examine the accuracy of their belief.

Question 2

Which question type is most effective for helping a client discover their own intrinsic motivation?

Accepted Answer

Scaling questions like 'On a scale of 1-10, how important is this to you?'

Answer

Scaling questions externalize and quantify motivation, making it easier for clients to reflect on and articulate their own drive.

Question 3

When a client is stuck and gives repetitive answers, what advanced questioning technique helps break the pattern?

Accepted Answer

Ask a 'what if' or hypothetical question to shift perspective

Answer

Hypothetical questions bypass current mental blocks and invite the client to explore possibilities beyond their stuck frame.

Question 4

A coach asks, 'What would your most courageous self do here?' This is an example of which technique?

Accepted Answer

Third-person or perspective-shift question

Answer

Perspective-shift questions invite the client to access a different aspect of themselves, creating emotional and cognitive distance from the problem.

Question 5

In IAC coaching, why should coaches avoid 'why' questions directed at a client's past behavior?

Accepted Answer

'Why' questions often trigger defensiveness and rationalization rather than insight

Answer

Asking 'why' about past behavior tends to activate justification and defensiveness, whereas 'what' and 'how' questions promote reflection.

(IAC) International Association of Coaching Certification Practice Test