Life Coaching Goal Setting and Action Planning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which framework is commonly used in life coaching to help clients set effective goals?
- SMART goals (Correct answer)
- SWOT analysis
- PEST analysis
- BCG matrix
Correct answer: SMART goals
SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) are the gold standard framework for goal setting in life coaching.
Question 2: What is a 'stretch goal' in the context of life coaching?
- A goal that is impossible to achieve
- A goal slightly beyond the client's current comfort zone that promotes growth (Correct answer)
- A goal focused on physical fitness
- A goal set by the coach rather than the client
Correct answer: A goal slightly beyond the client's current comfort zone that promotes growth
A stretch goal pushes the client just beyond their comfort zone to encourage growth without being so extreme that it becomes discouraging.
Question 3: In life coaching, what is the purpose of an 'action plan'?
- To document the coach's credentials
- To outline specific steps the client will take to achieve their goals (Correct answer)
- To evaluate the coach's performance
- To record the client's personal history
Correct answer: To outline specific steps the client will take to achieve their goals
An action plan breaks a client's goal into concrete, manageable steps with timelines, turning intention into structured progress.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'backward planning' in goal setting?
- Reviewing past failures to avoid repeating them
- Starting from the desired end result and working backward to identify necessary steps (Correct answer)
- Setting goals based on past achievements only
- Planning with a focus on what the client does not want
Correct answer: Starting from the desired end result and working backward to identify necessary steps
Backward planning starts at the end goal and maps out the sequence of steps needed to get there, clarifying the path forward.
Question 5: What role does accountability play in a life coaching action plan?
- It replaces the need for intrinsic motivation
- It ensures the client reports failures to their employer
- It creates a structure that helps the client follow through on commitments (Correct answer)
- It transfers responsibility for outcomes to the coach
Correct answer: It creates a structure that helps the client follow through on commitments
Accountability structures in coaching help clients stay committed to their action steps by creating regular check-ins and agreed consequences.
Question 6: Which tool is often used in coaching to help clients prioritize goals when they have many competing objectives?
- The Wheel of Life (Correct answer)
- Gantt charts
- PERT diagrams
- Six Sigma mapping
Correct answer: The Wheel of Life
The Wheel of Life is a visual coaching tool that helps clients assess and prioritize different life areas to identify where to focus goal-setting efforts.
Which framework is commonly used in life coaching to help clients set effective goals?