Curiosity in coaching allows you to deeply understand your coachee and foster more meaningful dialogues. When you show curiosity, you create an environment that encourages innovation and problem-solving.

Open-ended questions are essential to spark detailed responses and insights. Unlike closed questions that elicit a simple yes or no, open-ended questions encourage your coachee to think and express themselves more fully.

For example, instead of asking, "Did you find the client meeting challenging?" you could ask, "What challenges did you face during the client meeting?" This approach empowers the coachee to share not just what was challenging, but also why it was challenging, enabling a deeper discussion.

As a coach, your role is to facilitate the coachee’s thinking process rather than offering solutions. Emphasize their ideas and experiences to make them feel valued and heard.

For instance, if a coachee shares a new strategy idea, respond with genuine curiosity: "That's an interesting approach. What inspired you to consider that?" By doing this, you highlight the importance of their thoughts while resisting the urge to direct the conversation with your own advice.

Encouraging coachees to think from different perspectives cultivates critical thinking and broadens their approach to problem-solving. Challenge them with questions that prompt reflection on various viewpoints. For example, if a coachee is stuck on a specific strategy, ask: "Have you considered how the client might perceive this approach?" or "What other alternatives could we explore?" These questions push them to step outside their usual thought patterns and consider new possibilities.

Let's look at a dialogue between two colleagues to illustrate fostering curiosity in a coaching conversation.

• Jake: I'm thinking of changing our approach to client meetings to a more informal style.
• Victoria: That sounds interesting, Jake. What benefits do you see in an informal approach?
• Jake: I think it will make clients feel more comfortable and open up the conversation more.
• Victoria: Have you considered how this shift might affect our more traditional clients?
• Jake: Not really. That's a good point. Maybe I should think about different styles for different clients.
• Victoria: How do you think we could balance both approaches effectively?

By mastering the art of showing curiosity, you will foster richer, more insightful conversations that empower your coachees to explore new ideas and take ownership of their learning journey. Next, you will have the opportunity to practice these concepts in role-play sessions designed to enhance your skills.