A mixed methods study of effects and antecedents of solution-focused questions in coaching

Abstract

The coaching interaction regarding questioning is still under-researched. This study investigates clients’ behavioural responses to coaches’ solution-focused questions (SFQ), their effects on coaching outcomes, and coaches’ career-related attributes promoting SFQ. Using a mixed methods design, we applied longitudinal self-report and behavioural data for 23 coach-client dyads. Lag sequential analyses and regressions revealed coaches’ SFQ to elicit clients’ solution and self-efficient statements and the importance of coaches’ career adaptability for SFQ. Our findings contribute to the improvement of coaching and training programmes by providing practitioners with knowledge of micro level coaching processes. The possibility of coaches’ role modelling is discussed.

Keywords

• solution-focused questions
• coaching interaction
• behavioural data
• career-related attributes