ICF Core Competencies and PCC Markers:

7. Evokes Awareness

Definition: Facilitates client insight and learning by using tools and techniques such as powerful questioning, silence, metaphor or analogy.

Considers client experience when deciding what might be most useful.
Challenges the client as a way to evoke awareness or insight.
Asks questions about the client, such as their way of thinking, values, needs, wants and beliefs.
Asks questions that help the client explore beyond current thinking.
Invites the client to share more about their experience in the moment.
Notices what is working to enhance client progress.
Adjusts the coaching approach in response to the client’s needs.
Helps the client identify factors that influence current and future patterns of behavior, thinking or emotion.
Invites the client to generate ideas about how they can move forward and what they are willing or able to do.
Supports the client in reframing perspectives.
Shares observations, insights and feelings, without attachment, that have the potential to create new learning for the client.

7.1: Coach asks questions about the client, such as their current way of thinking, feeling, values, needs, wants, beliefs or behaviour.
7.2: Coach asks questions to help the client explore beyond the client’s current thinking or feeling to new or expanded ways of thinking or feeling about themself (the who).
7.3: Coach asks questions to help the client explore beyond the client’s current thinking or feeling to new or expanded ways of thinking or feeling about their situation (the what).
7.4: Coach asks questions to help the client explore beyond current thinking, feeling or behaving toward the outcome the client desires.
7.5: Coach shares—with no attachment—observations, intuitions, comments, thoughts or feelings, and invites the client’s exploration through verbal or tonal invitation.
7.6: Coach asks clear, direct, primarily open-ended questions, one at a time, at a pace that allows for thinking, feeling or reflection by the client.
7.7: Coach uses language that is generally clear and concise.
7.8: Coach allows the client to do most of the talking.