Good question...

When we lack confidence, we can avoid asking questions for fear of being judged as unintelligent; or because we have imposter syndrome and are terrified of being uncovered as out of place; or because we don’t want to be a burden.

The reality is, nobody knows everything and avoiding asking questions means we will continue to live with a lack of clarity. Ironically, this may well lead to us underperforming, highlighting our inadequacies and creating more work for those around us.

One of the great things about being a coach is that we need to get comfortable with asking questions if we are to be good at our role. Good questions enable our clients to gain insight into themselves and their circumstances, ultimately leading to progress and growth.

While I’ve always been a “people-person”, finding people’s stories interesting, becoming a coach has offered a bit of exposure therapy around asking questions. I no longer fear the outcome of asking a good question (good being key!), both within my coaching work and in my relationships in general. I can see that this has led to deeper relationships and a greater sense of belonging with “my tribe”, along with more effective coaching sessions.

As a Christian, I love that we are encouraged to show curiosity about God and that we are never rejected or humiliated for asking Him questions. I feel like this gives us the ultimate permission to ask others questions, while understanding that they don’t have to answer them of course! Perhaps if we dig into this truth, we might all become more comfortable with asking questions and, as a result, experiencing greater progress and growth in our lives…