Use open questions to unlock client insight
Replacing closed yes/no questions with open questions invites clients to explore their own thinking, uncovering goals, barriers, and readiness for change.
Why this matters
Questions are the coach's primary tool. Yet many coaches default to closed questions — ones that invite a simple "yes" or "no" — because they feel efficient. The problem is that efficiency kills exploration. When a client says "yes, I'll try it", you've learned nothing about whether they mean it, what might get in the way, or what the behaviour means to them.
Open questions begin with "what", "how", or "tell me about..." and signal to the client that their perspective matters. They create space for self-reflection, often surfacing insights neither party expected.
In practice
A coach asks: "Are you going to drink more water this week?" Client: "Yeah, I'll try." Compare that with: "What would make it easier for you to drink more water?" Client: "Honestly, I forget — if I had a water bottle on my desk I'd probably do it." The open question revealed a concrete environmental cue the coach could build on.
Try it today
In your next session, write down three questions you plan to ask. Rewrite any that start with "Do you...?" or "Did you...?" as open questions starting with "What..." or "How..."
Make it a habit
After each session, review your notes and count how many closed vs open questions you asked. Aim to shift the ratio by one each week.
Ready to put this into practice?
Sticky Coach helps you track client habits and conversations — so nothing falls through the cracks.
More tips
Reflect back to show you're really listening
Reflecting what a client says — in your own words — demonstrates genuine understanding and encourages deeper exploration.
Read tip →Roll with resistance instead of pushing harder
When clients push back, arguing back makes it worse — stepping back and acknowledging their perspective keeps the door open for change.
Read tip →Elicit change talk by asking for elaboration
When a client expresses any desire, ability, reason, or need to change, asking them to "tell you more" amplifies that motivation.
Read tip →