Open-ended questions

Open-ended questions are questions that do not close with a single word and that invite the client to tell. Instead of 'did this make you happy?', the question 'what did this make you feel?' opens the door wide. The basic question of coaching often begins with 'what' and 'how', because these call for description. The 'why' question, on the other hand, is used with care, because it can at times arouse defensiveness. An open question leaves the direction of the answer to the client.