Coaching Handbook: An Action Kit for Trainers and Managers

˜What if. . . questions

Purpose

The purpose of this technique is to encourage the coachee to consider what might happen as a result of different scenarios.

Resources

This takes up to 25 minutes. No equipment is required.

Notes to coach

There are many variations on this activity; it can be used to explore future possibilities for the coachee or to examine the consequences of actions. Your role as the coach is to encourage the coachee to think as deeply as possible about each ˜what if. . . scenario.

Instructions

When the coachee has identified a course of action, ask ˜what if. . . questions aimed at getting him or her to consider all the potential consequences that might happen as a result of his or her plans. This will help the coachee to be prepared for reactions to and results from the planned actions.

In the same way, use it to open up the coachee s mind to other options by asking questions like ˜What if there were no limits? .

Examples of ˜what if. . . questions are:

• What if you said. . .?

• What if you had unlimited resources?

• What if there were no barriers placed in your way?

• What if you could do anything you wanted to in order to achieve your goal?

• What if you had different people around you?

• What if you only had a few months left to live?

• What if they say ˜No ?

• What if they say ˜Yes ?

• What if it goes wrong?

• What if you are successful?

• What if it isn t as good as you think it might be?

• What if your team responds badly ?

• What if they tell you something you don t want to hear?

• What if you get angry ?