The Key To An Effective Coaching Session
Ever left a coaching session feeling defeated because you did all the talking while your client just nodded along? The key to transformational coaching lies in mastering the art of effective coaching questions that unlock your clients’ wisdom and create genuine breakthroughs.
In this third installment of my Momentum Series, I’m revealing the single most powerful tool that will transform your coaching sessions from information dumps into true client transformations: learning how to ask effective coaching questions that drive results.
Why Your Coaching Business NEEDS Effective Coaching Questions
Let’s get real for a minute. Your entire coaching business rests on your ability to create transformational results for your clients. When clients experience genuine breakthroughs:
- They renew their packages (hello, consistent income!)
- They eagerly refer others (the most valuable leads you’ll ever get!)
- They implement at higher rates (boosting your reputation!)
But here’s the cold, hard truth many coaches miss: Referral clients are worth their weight in gold. They trust you faster, convert at higher rates, and typically have a higher lifetime value in your business.
So how do you create the kind of coaching experience that naturally generates these high-value renewals and referrals?
It all comes down to mastering the art of powerful questions.
What You’ll Learn About Effective Coaching Questions in This Episode
- Why telling clients what to do creates dependency (not transformation)
- The crucial difference between coaching and consulting (and when to use each)
- The four key elements of asking questions that unlock your clients’ own wisdom
- My proven framework for structuring coaching sessions that leave clients saying “WOW!”
- Three dangerous question traps to avoid (I’ve fallen into all of them!)
- The silent technique that creates massive breakthroughs (hint: it’s about what you DON’T say)
The Four Elements of Effective Coaching Questions
Element #1: Start With a Clear Session Goal
The number one reason coaching sessions fall flat? Assuming you know what the client needs before they even speak.
Always begin by asking: “What do you want to walk away with today?” or “What’s the tangible takeaway you need from our session?”
This accomplishes two critical things:
- It locks you into exactly what they need (not what you think they need)
- It gives you a clear target for your questions
Pro Tip: If their goal feels misaligned, you can readjust it collectively, but always start with their perspective first.
Element #2: Ask Open-Ended Questions
Want to kill a coaching conversation fast? Ask yes/no questions.
Think about picking up your teenager from school:
- “How was your day?” → “Good.”
- “Did you have fun?” → “Yes.” Conversation over.
Instead, try:
- “What was the best part of your day today?”
- “Tell me about the conversations you had at lunch.”
The same principle applies in coaching. Your client should be doing 80% of the talking—this is how they solve their own problems!
Element #3: Be a Blank Canvas
Great coaching requires neutrality. You must set aside:
- What happened in your previous sessions
- Your assumptions about their situation
- Your agenda for what they “should” do
Come to each session fresh, with genuine curiosity about what they’re bringing to the table TODAY.
“If you’ve already got the rebuttal, you’re missing what’s present in front of you to create massive breakthroughs for your clients.”
Element #4: Align With Their Values
Powerful questions connect to what matters most to your client.
Start with questions like:
- “What’s most important to you right now?”
- “Which of these issues feels most relevant to address first?”
This allows you to go deep (not wide) on what truly matters, creating focused transformation instead of scattered advice.
Three Effective Coaching Questions Traps to Avoid
Trap #1: Leading Questions
Asking “Don’t you think you should…” immediately puts your client on the defensive and undermines their agency.
Trap #2: Advice Disguised as Questions
“Wouldn’t it make more sense to work on your freebie first?” is just giving advice with a question mark at the end.
Trap #3: Rapid-Fire Questioning
Firing off question after question without giving your client space to reflect prevents deep insight.
Power Move: Embrace the silence! That awkward pause after a powerful question is where the magic happens. Get comfortable with it.
🚨 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Live Coaching with Me! 🚨
This Momentum Series is building toward something special – a LIVE coaching opportunity on May 7th at 9 am Arizona time where you can get coached by me on whatever you’re feeling stuck on in your business!
Whether you’re:
- Struggling with your coaching approach
- Unsure how to structure your sessions
- Looking to elevate your question-asking skills
- Or facing any other coaching business challenge
This is your chance to experience powerful coaching firsthand and build serious momentum in your business. → REGISTER HERE: amanda-walker.com/getcoached
Take Action This Week!
Your homework from this episode:
- Identify one moment in your coaching sessions where you typically give advice
- Replace that moment with a powerful question instead
- Write two go-to questions on sticky notes at your desk for your next session
- Notice how this shift impacts your client’s engagement and breakthroughs
Remember: “The more questions you ask, the more effective the coaching session will be, the more the client can see their power, their agency.”
Resources Mentioned
- REGISTER: Live Coaching Session (May 7th)
- COACHING SESSION BLUEPRINT – Message me on Instagram for access
Connect With Me
- Instagram: @awalkmyway
- Website: amanda-walker.com
About the Momentum Series
This 4-part series is designed to help you break through whatever’s holding you back and create unstoppable momentum in your coaching business:
- Part 1: When You’re the Coach, Who Coaches You?
- Part 2: Why You’re Second-Guessing Every Decision in Your Coaching Business
- Part 3: The Key to an Effective Coaching Session (You Are Here!)
- Part 4: Coming next – The surprising reasons you might be stuck (final episode)
If this episode helped you level up your coaching skills, I’d be so grateful if you’d:
- Leave a 5-star review
- Share it with other coaches who might be struggling with their session effectiveness
- Follow so you don’t miss the final installment of this Momentum Series
