50 Powerful Coaching Questions to Create Change

By Mary J. Yerkes
NABBW’s Living with Chronic Illness Expert

Ask yourself these questions to take control of your life!

Defining Goals

1. If you were to FULLY live your life, what is the first change you would start to make?

2. What areas of your life could be upgraded/tweaked?

3. What could we work on now that would make the biggest difference to your life?

4. How would you feel about doubling that goal?

5. What are you tolerating/ putting up with?

6. What do you want MORE of in your life? (Make a list)

7. What do you want LESS of in your life? (Make a list)

8. What are three things you are doing regularly that don’t serve or support you?

9. How could you make this goal more specific or measurable?

10. What would be the biggest impact from achieving your goal(s)?

11. What would you try now if you knew you could not fail?

12. How can we make this something you’re aiming towards, rather than something you’re trying to move away from?

13. What do you love?

14. What do you hate?

15. What’s one thing you would love to do before you die?

16. Is now the right time for you to make a commitment to achieving these goals?

17. What could we work on right now that would really put a smile on your face?

18. For your life to be perfect, what would you have to change?

19. What do you really, really want?

20. What’s one change you could make to your lifestyle that would give you more peace?

Action Stations

21. What’s the first/next step?

22. What research could you do to help you find the first (or next) step?

23. Who could you talk to who would illuminate this issue?

24. Who should you be hanging out with – so that achieving this goal becomes natural? (i.e. who’s already doing it?)

25. How can you get the knowledge/information you need?

26. What are three actions you could take that would make sense this week?

27. On a scale of 1 to 10, how excited do you feel about taking these actions?

28. What would increase that score? (e.g. handle fear, clearer steps, more support, more fun)

29. What would Tony Robbins do in this situation? What would “massive action” look like?

30. What will happen (what is the cost) of you NOT doing anything about this?

Gaining New Perspectives

31. What can you learn from this?

32. In what way is the current situation absolutely perfect?

33. How could you turn this around immediately, and enjoy the process?

34. What in this situation can you find to be grateful for?

35. What are you doing will? What can you do better?

36. What’s one way you could have more fun in your life?

37. If you were your own coach, what Coaching would you give yourself right now?

38. What is the value of your current attitude?

39. What’s your favorite way of sabotaging yourself, and your goals?

40. What should I say to you if I spot you doing this?

General Diagnostic Questions

41. What are three of your greatest strengths?

42. What are you most excited about now? What are you looking forward to?

43. What’s one way to get more energy into your life?

44. If your relationship was IDEAL, what’s one thing that would be different?

45. What would be your ideal career – If you could do anything?

46. What’s one thing that you could do to give yourself more peace financially?

47. What is your life really about? What is your purpose?

48. If you had to guess your life purpose (from looking at your life to date), what would it be?

49. What would you like most to be acknowledged for so far in your life?

50. Who in your life should be acknowledged more? Would you like to acknowledge them for something today?

Mary J. Yerkes is a professional life coach who provides Transformational Coaching to the chronically ill, women in leadership, and new and aspiring non-fiction writers. She helps motivated individuals, groups, and organizations find their purpose and live their passion. With more than 25 years’ experience in the corporate world and church leadership, Mary launched her writing, speaking, and coaching career after being diagnosed with multiple chronic illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. She is passionate about helping others from all walks of life live life to the full. She is currently working on a book, When Life Hurts: Ten Transforming Choices Every Woman Can Make. Mary is a member of the Christian Coaches Network, the International Coach Federation, and the International Association of Business Communicators, as well as other professional networks. You can visit Mary online at NewLifeChristianCoaching.com and MaryYerkes.com. While Mary recovers from an injury, we are publishing some articles she has chosen that were previously published elsewhere.

Mary J. Yerkes Chronic Illness Coach, Author, Speaker

Mary J. Yerkes is a professional life coach who provides transformational coaching to the chronically ill, women in leadership, and new and aspiring non-fiction writers. She helps motivated individuals, groups, and organizations find their purpose and live their passion. With more than 25 years' experience in the corporate world and church leadership, Mary launched her writing, speaking, and coaching career after being diagnosed with multiple chronic illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. She is passionate about helping others from all walks of life live life to the full. She is currently working on a book, When Life Hurts: Ten Transforming Choices Every Woman Can Make. Mary is a member of the Christian Coaches Network, the International Coach Federation, and the International Association of Business Communicators, as well as other professional networks. You can visit Mary online at www.NewLifeChristianCoaching.com and www.MaryYerkes.com.