How to Instantly Elevate Your Coaching Sessions

If you're a newer coach, chances are you've already discovered that powerful coaching isn't just about having the perfect plan or a compelling niche. It's about how you show up in the moment with your client. And one of the fastest ways to grow as a coach? Learn to ask better questions.

Questions that deepen insight. Invite reflection. Spark action.

That's why I created the free guide, 90+ Powerful Coaching Questions—a resource designed to help you cut through the noise and uplevel your coaching sessions immediately.

In this post, I’ll share five key ways you can instantly improve the power of your coaching sessions—each one tied to the art of the question—and how to use this freebie to build your confidence, sharpen your instincts, and create more transformational moments with your clients.

1. Ditch the Yes/No Questions (and the Ones That Suggest an Answer)

Let’s start with the most common coaching habit I see newer coaches fall into: asking closed or leading questions.

“Do you think that might be the problem?”

“Is that making you feel stuck?”

These aren’t terrible questions. They’re just not powerful ones. They either:

• Invite a one-word answer (which stops the conversation cold), or

• Steer the client toward what you think, instead of helping them uncover what they believe.

Powerful questions are open-ended and non-directive. They help clients explore their thoughts and feelings, not just confirm yours.

Try instead:

• “What feels challenging about that?”

• “What’s making this feel so sticky right now?”

You’ll find dozens of these in the 90+ Powerful Coaching Questions freebie, categorized by coaching topic so you can find the right question fast.

2. Ask More Questions That Start With "What" or "How"

There’s a reason seasoned coaches rely on these two little words so often: they work.

"What" and "how" questions open the door to exploration, reflection, and decision-making. They signal curiosity without judgment and help clients think things through more clearly.

A few favorites:

• "What feels most important to explore today?"

• "How do you want to feel when this is resolved?"

• "What would be possible if this wasn’t holding you back?"

Avoid the classic coaching trap of asking too many "why" questions. While "why" can work in small doses, it often puts clients on the defensive or sends them into their heads.

Pro tip: If you catch yourself about to ask "why did you do that?" try rephrasing as, "What was going through your mind when you made that decision?"

3. Embrace the Power of Silence

If you're constantly trying to fill the silence in your coaching sessions, you may be robbing your client of their next big insight.

Silence is where the magic happens.

It’s in the pause after a deep question—when your client looks away, takes a breath, and feels something. That’s where the shift starts.

Here’s how to lean in instead of rushing to rescue:

• Ask your question, then mute your mic (if on Zoom). Let them think.

• Count to ten in your head before speaking again. Let it stretch.

• Resist the urge to rephrase or clarify. If it was a good question, it needs time to land.

Silence can be uncomfortable—but it’s also sacred. Trust that your client will speak when they’re ready. And when they do, you’ll often hear something they’ve never said out loud before.

Want to see how powerful silence can be? Try asking one of the deeper questions from the 90+ Powerful Coaching Questions guide—and then say nothing. After your client answers, stay silent and see what happens.

4. Let Your Client Co-Create the Agenda

Too many coaches jump into a session with a plan—or expect their client to arrive with one.

But great coaching meets the client where they are.

Start each session by asking the client to identify the topic that feels most alive or urgent for them. This not only ensures relevance, but it invites them into ownership of the session.

Try questions like:

• "What’s keeping you up at night lately?"

• "What’s taking up the most mental space right now?"

• "What would feel most helpful to focus on today?"

When clients set the agenda, they’re more engaged, more honest, and more likely to leave with meaningful insights. You become a partner, not a fixer.

You’ll find a whole section of the freebie dedicated to opening and agenda-setting questions—perfect for those first 5 minutes of a coaching session.

5. Bookend Your Sessions with Feeling and Reflection

If you want your coaching to feel truly impactful, start and end each session intentionally.

At the beginning: Ask your client how they’re feeling—not just what they want to work on.

At the end: Ask for their takeaways. How are they feeling now v. at the beginning of your session? What shifted? What was their "aha" moment?

This creates a container for the session. It helps:

• Build emotional awareness

• Reinforce insights, learning and growth

• Increase the perceived (and actual) value of your coaching

Sample questions:

• "On a scale of 1–10, where’s your energy or emotional state right now?"

• "What’s your biggest insight or takeaway from today?"

• "How are you feeling now, compared to the start of the session?"

Then take it a step further: build a bridge to the next session.

Ask: "What do you want to explore between now and next time?" or "What would be helpful to track or journal about before we meet again?"

That tiny accountability nudge can lead to big breakthroughs—and it keeps the coaching alive between sessions.

Why the Right Question Is Better Than the Right Answer

Powerful coaching doesn’t require you to be the expert with all the answers.

It requires you to be present, curious, and confident enough to ask a question that opens something up.

That’s the secret behind the 90+ Powerful Coaching Questions freebie. It’s not just a list—it’s a mini-masterclass in transformational inquiry.

Use it to:

• Prepare for sessions with more clarity

• Build your question-asking muscle

• Practice curiosity without attachment

The best part? These questions aren’t just for clients. They’ll sharpen your awareness, too.

Ready to Coach with More Confidence?

Whether you’re prepping for your first client or your fiftieth, the right question can change everything.

Download the 90+ Powerful Coaching Questions freebie and keep it within reach during your sessions. Highlight your favourites. Practice incorporating one or two new questions each week.

Before long, asking powerful, open-ended, client-centered questions will feel second nature.

And your clients? They’ll feel seen, heard, and empowered like never before.

Grab your free guide now and start asking better questions today.

[DOWNLOAD IT HERE NOW]

P.S. Want to dive deeper into building your coaching confidence? Tune in to The Coaching Edge Podcast HERE (or anywhere you listen to podcasts), where I share real talk, behind-the-scenes stories, and practical tools for coaches in their first five years of business.

Because better questions = better coaching. And better coaching? That’s how we change lives.