On my Life Coaching diploma level 7 course I demonstrate and the delegates practice many useful tools and techniques. These tools and techniques range from how to convert an inquiry into a paying client to how to use NLP when coaching. One of the easiest to use and most effective tools covered on the life coaching course, Cartesian Questions, can be used when a client is unsure or shows hesitancy in describing a goal or course of action.
When a client is confused or unsure of the next step, an average coach will run roughshod or skim over any doubts and go straight for actions. This is a natural response for non-trained coaches and sometimes

this will work for the client. It is better practice to eliminate the risk of failure and the Cartesian questions work brilliantly and effectively when the coach uses them properly.
If you have a client who is unsure or shows hesitancy when describing a goal or course of action, let’s use going to the library as an example; you just start with asking,
What will happen if you do go to the library? Wait for the answer and then without any deviation or adding of anything whatsoever go straight onto …
What will happen if you don’t go to the library? Wait for the answer and then without any deviation or adding of anything whatsoever go straight onto …
What won’t happen if you do go to the library? Wait for the answer and then without any deviation or adding of anything whatsoever go straight onto …
What won’t happen if you do not go to the library? Wait for the answer
Often the last two questions will cause confusion in your client and they may say they do not know what you mean.
Simply answer ‘that is fine, what do you want to do?’ This is of course what you wanted to know all the time and by taking the client through this process of confusion the client will come out the other side knowing what they want to do and the confusion about the action will have disappeared.