What techniques help clients reflect on their progress in life coaching?

The most powerful questions are the ones where the client goes silent after hearing it. They are the ones that provide longer lasting impact and can also be asked multiple times, yet they often provide different answers. Deeper the question, higher the quality of its answer.

I found the key is to remove the extraneous busy work that keeps us from the tasks and decisions that drive improvement. Clear your schedule and your mind and address what matters.

It's about fostering self-awareness through tailored exercises, probing questions, and goal assessments. From envisioning future success to celebrating small victories, the process encourages introspection and empowers them to steer toward personal and professional growth. Regular check-ins, gratitude journaling, and mindfulness practices are like milestones on this transformative journey. As a life and business coach, my role is to navigate this path collaboratively, ensuring each step resonates with their unique aspirations and paves the way for lasting positive change

Questions are the bread and butter of coaching. Learning how to ask questions is important because they need to o be genuine questions. I learned that non genuine questions are the ones that you can add “you stupid head” to the end.

One of the best ways to assess a coaches’ skill is to listen to the kinds of questions they are asking you. Are their questions generic or are they asking you specific questions tailored to your context and situation? (This also is a good way to understand how good they are at listening!) Are the questions leading? (In other words, is the coach assuming they know your answer?) How do you feel when they ask you something challenging? Have they created safety for you to be uncertain or confused or ask for clarification?

Scaling questions can be very helpful when clients don't always see all the progress and work they have already made and how they are not starting fully from scratch. I asked one of my clients recently: "What makes it a 4 rather than a 0?" and it really impacted them to realize they already have some foundation to build upon. That said, I am also very conscious and careful who I do it with, as this might backfire and get them into a space that is worse than before. It's all about adapting to the client's style!

Scaling questions are effective for helping clients reflect on their progress in life coaching by providing a clear, quantifiable way to evaluate their experiences and growth. By asking clients to rate their feelings or progress on a scale (e.g., 1 to 10), they can quickly identify where they stand and see changes over time. This method highlights improvements and areas needing attention, making progress more tangible. Clients can compare their current ratings with past ones to visualize their journey and recognize achievements. Scaling questions also facilitate deeper discussions about what influences their scores, promoting self-awareness and motivating further action.

I usually don’t use scales unless my client is technical. There is an exactness that they like so it well with those clients. Others like myself hate scales. It hard for me to decide. If I use a scale for for the latter group it tends yo be thumbs up, sideways or down.

Scaling question is a very useful tool in helping clients to evaluate themselves and it has the magic in self-reflection. Although scaling question helps clients to understand their current condition, it creates the awareness of the importance of taking actions. I often use scaling question to help clients to make comparison, compare the before, current, and desire outcome, this way the clients delve deeper in hearing own voice., it also builds their confidence by realizing the progress just within a session. The impression on themselves serves the motivator in believing themselves.

One of the best techniques that I use with all my clients is a weekly accountability call based on a short group of questions, asked between myself and the client each week. This method keeps the client on track as we meet every week. Some coaches meet even less requiring the value of accountability documentation. Often there are challenges and interrupts during the week, losing momentum toward their goal. This interrupts the flow of tasks and actions that are to be addressed every two or three days to maintain motivation. Questions via email before this checkin include: Current goal Tasks completed previous week Tasks incomplete Support or solutions derived Tasks for the next week Email subject reveals date for easy review.

Honestly, I never use the term feedback or assessment with my coaching clients. I tend to say may I share a perspective for your consideration. Assessments are good but I call them development information. I use this because this words can be trigger words. Also, the way I coach requires them to do a new practice and then reflect on that practice. Even if they don’t do the practice there is information for t em to learn about themselves?

We celebrate and acknowledge accomplishments, as often as possible, especially because my clients tend to not give themselves nearly enough credit for profess. We also look for opportunities to learn and grow. Do I use formal tools? Nah. Most of the time they aren’t necessary. Each client works to come up with a process that works for them, that they can incorporate seemlessly into their lives. Formal assessments can occasionally be fun, but are typically too cumbersome to be of use day-to-day (which is what really matters to my clients!)

Feedback tools are invaluable for clients to reflect on their progress in life coaching. They provide structured ways for clients to self-assess and recognize achievements. Regular feedback forms or surveys can help clients track their goals and milestones. Tools like journals or progress trackers enable clients to document their thoughts and feelings, promoting self-awareness. Additionally, feedback tools facilitate open communication between coach and client, allowing for constructive discussions about what’s working and what needs adjustment. This ongoing reflection and dialogue foster a deeper understanding of their journey and enhance personal growth.

This makes coaching sound so boring and rote! Exercises? Yes! But it’s never about the tool or the exercise. It’s about the insights gained from doing the thing. One client had the assignment to look at herself in a mirror for two minutes. Another (who works in product) documented her “task system” as if she were gathering requirements for her job. The exercise should always be purpose-driven and tailored to a clients’ unique learning style. And ideally be fun too!

Lo importante de un ejercicio reflexivo, es pasarlo a la acción!!! Que la Reflexión provoque un cambio en mi patrón de comportamiento, una mejora y que no quede solo en un deseo o pensamiento.

Reflective exercises are powerful tools for clients to reflect on their progress in life coaching. By engaging in activities like journaling, clients can articulate their thoughts and emotions, which helps them recognize patterns and growth. Guided reflection questions encourage clients to evaluate their actions and decisions, fostering deeper self-awareness. Visualization techniques allow clients to mentally rehearse achievements and future goals, reinforcing positive outcomes. Regularly revisiting these exercises helps clients track their development, celebrate successes, and identify areas for improvement. This continuous self-assessment promotes accountability and keeps clients motivated on their journey.

In my own personal journey, I've found it helpful to start with purpose. Really reflecting and understanding your purpose helps you stay in alignment with your goals and what success means for you. The key is to have actionable goals that are measurable. That will help determine progress and improvement.

As progress is not momentary but a continuous journey, the techniques for helping clients reflect on their progress also need to be continuous in nature. One of the techniques I personally use is a journaling technique for my clients, which I have named "Repeat Reflective Responses." Different coaches may have their own names for this particular technique, where clients write their responses to a set of thought-provoking, self-discovery, and self-progression questions at predetermined intervals. Each time, clients can compare their current responses with their previous ones to track their progress. This technique combines elements from two or three commonly used techniques in life coaching.

I have them answer 2 questions before we start a coaching relationship. the first is what do they want to get out of coaching? and the second is how will you know its working? I refer back to these questions when they are either at a plateau or are frustrated in their progress to remind them of the steps they have already taken on their journey.

I think one of the most important exercises that most coaches use is Visualisation and Self Exploration. Both of them work like a charm!