As a coach, one of your most valuable tools is great questions. The right question at the right time can unlock doors, help clients see themselves and their situation in a new light, and make all the difference in whether or not they’re able to achieve their goals.

Now of course, the truth is, there are infinite great questions a life coach could ask their clients. It’s impossible to make a complete list.

But, if you’re a new coach (or learning to become a coach) and you’re looking for some inspiration for what sorts of questions to ask your clients, here are 25 great ones to get you started—broken down into five categories:

1. Questions about the past:

• What has been your biggest accomplishment in life so far?
• What are you most proud of?
• What has been your biggest challenge in life?
• What did you learn from overcoming that challenge?
• What are some other major accomplishments or challenges from your past that have shaped who you are today?

By asking questions about your client’s past, you can help them to understand how their experiences have shaped them and influenced their current situation. This can be incredibly helpful in understanding why they may be struggling with certain issues or feeling a certain way.

2. Questions about the present:

• How would you describe your current situation?
• What are your biggest goals at this point in your life?
• What are your biggest concerns at this moment?
• What are you doing right now to move closer to your goals?
• What is currently preventing you from moving closer to your goals?

Questions about the present help to identify what your client’s current priorities are and what their biggest obstacles are. This information can be used to help them develop a plan to achieve their goals and overcome their challenges.

3. Questions about the future:

• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• In ten years?
• In twenty years?
• What kind of person do you want to be?
• What kind of things do you want to have accomplished by then?

Getting your client to think about their future can be a great motivator for making positive changes in their present. It can also help them to identify what they need to do now to achieve their long-term goals.

4. Questions about life purpose:

• Why are you here?
• What is the meaning and purpose of life?
• How can you live a more meaningful and fulfilling life?
• How can you make a difference in the world?
• What is your unique contribution?

You may find that some of your clients are struggling with feelings of purposelessness or dissatisfaction. Asking them questions about life purpose can help them to identify what they want to change and how they can make a positive difference in the world.

5. Questions about values and beliefs:

• What are your core values?
• What are your belief system?
• How do your values and beliefs shape your life choices?
• Do you ever question your values or beliefs?
• If so, what happens as a result?

If your client is struggling with making decisions or living a life that feels authentic to them, questions about values and beliefs can be very helpful.

This type of questioning can help them to identify what is important to them and how they can make choices that align with their values.

These are just some examples of the types of questions that a life coach could ask their clients. 

Ultimately, the goal is to help your clients gain clarity and understanding about themselves, their lives, and their choices.

Asking the right questions can be a powerful tool in helping them to do that.