Clean language questions are a way to open the door for clear communication between yourself and your clients. They are a way of encouraging the exploration of thoughts and feelings, and allow people to gain powerful insights into their own thinking.
The power of clean language questions lies in their ability to minimise the assumptions, biases, and interpretations that often come up in conversations. They allow the person being questioned to express themselves more freely which leads to them feeling brave enough to open up more to you.
The sole focus of clean language questions is on the respondent’s viewpoint, and the questions are usually brief, simple, and neutral. They often use the exact words or phrases the respondent has used, which helps prevent any misinterpretation.
Here are a few examples of clean language questions:
“What would you like to have happen?”
“Is there anything else about … ?”
“What’s important to you about … ?”
“What determines … ?”
“What do you know about … ?”
“What kind of … is that … ?”
Using clean language questions can make your coaching sessions more successful by:
- Allowing your clients to explore their thoughts and feelings without feeling judged or guided by someone else’s ideas.
- Helping to clarify their thoughts and encourage deeper reflection on their experiences when you use the words they use frequently.
- Empowering them to find their own solutions and insights and encouraging a sense of autonomy and self-discovery.
- Helping to minimise assumptions and avoid imposing the questioner’s thoughts on the respondent, making the conversation more unbiased.
- Encouraging active listening by focusing on the respondent’s words and emotions rather than the questioner interrupting with their own thoughts and opinions.
- Using open-ended questions to gain more comprehensive and detailed responses.
- Allowing them to feel more respected and understood as they are allowed to express themselves freely.
Clean language questions offer a powerful tool for effective communication between you and your client and allows them to explore their thoughts, emotions, and perspectives in a non-intrusive and non-judgmental manner. This ultimately leads to more meaningful and constructive conversations.