In coaching and in life, true transformation begins from within. Evoking awareness (ICF Core Competency 7) is not about directing a client toward answers but about creating a space where their inner clarity can emerge and guide them. Through presence, curiosity, and thoughtful inquiry, we invite clients to explore the layers beneath their choices, beliefs, and emotions revealing insight and what truly matters to them. When awareness deepens first, actions that follow are more aligned, authentic, and sustainable. The following questions are designed to foster this kind of inner journey, moving from the inside out.

Considering Past Influences: "What early influences or past experiences might be shaping your perspective or response here?"

Current Thinking and Beyond: "If you could look beyond your current perspective, what new possibilities might emerge?"
Exploring Values and Alignment: "How does this decision or choice align with your core values and beliefs?"
Recognizing Patterns: "What patterns do you notice in how you approach situations like this? How might these patterns be serving or limiting you?"
Moment-to-Moment Awareness: "What is present for you in this very moment as you reflect on this challenge?"
Challenge and Growth: "What might be a challenging or uncomfortable question for you to explore here, but could open up new insights?"
Expanding Thinking: "What new understanding could you gain by seeing this situation through a completely different lens?"
Needs and Desires: "What do you deeply need or want in this area, and what is guiding that need or desire?"
Noticing Strengths and Progress: "What strengths are emerging for you in this experience? How are they helping you move forward?"
Response Flexibility: "How could shifting your response or approach here change the outcome or your experience?"
Influence of Emotions: "What emotions are showing up, and how might they be guiding your choices or perspectives?"
Possibilities for Action: "What new actions are you willing to explore to move forward in a way that feels authentic and aligned?"
Reframing Limitations: "What would it mean to reframe this perceived limitation as a unique opportunity?"
Observation Without Attachment: "I notice there’s a lot of focus on [describe theme]. What do you make of this emphasis, and how does it feel to explore it without judgment?"
In-the-Moment Awareness: "What is emerging within you right now as we discuss this topic? What does it reveal about your deeper motivations?"
Exploring Assumptions: "What assumptions might you be holding, and how might they be shaping your outlook or decisions?"
Values in Action: "How does this choice or challenge reflect your highest values, and where might there be opportunities for alignment or growth?"
Belief Exploration: "What beliefs are surfacing here, and how do they impact your ability to see the bigger picture?"
Inviting Curiosity: "What if you approached this situation with pure curiosity, without needing to find an immediate answer?"
Finding Meaning: "What deeper meaning or purpose do you see in navigating this experience, and how might it influence your future?"

These questions and observations encourage exploration beyond the surface, invite introspection, and support the client in uncovering insights that are authentic and transformative.

Coaching Scenario Example:

Coach: "How does this decision or choice align with your core values and beliefs?"

Client: "I think it does in some ways. This role would give me more independence, which I value, but I’m not sure if the company’s mission fully resonates with me."

Coach: "Tell me more about that feeling of resonance. What aspects of the company's mission feel aligned, and which parts feel like they’re in tension with your values?"

Client: "I value independence and creativity, and this role seems to offer that. But I’m also very committed to environmental sustainability, and I’m not sure if this company prioritizes that as much as I’d like."

Coach: "Independence, creativity, and sustainability are coming through as important values. How do these values shape the way you envision your ideal work environment?"

Client: "I imagine working somewhere that encourages creative solutions for environmental issues. I want to contribute to something meaningful that aligns with my environmental beliefs."

Coach: "What does it feel like to consider a role where some of your values might be met while others might be less aligned? What stands out in your body or emotions as you think about that tension?"

Client: "It feels uncomfortable, like there’s a compromise I’m not sure I’m ready to make. I feel a bit anxious, wondering if I’d have to set aside some of my beliefs to fit in."

Coach: "What parts of your values feel non-negotiable for you in a role, and where might there be flexibility?"

Client: "Independence and creativity are must-haves. But I realize now that sustainability isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a core part of my identity. I might be willing to compromise on other things, but not on that."

Coach: "With sustainability being so central, how might you integrate this value into your decision-making? Or “What actions or inquiries could you make to see if this role could be a fit?"

Client: "Maybe I could explore how the company is evolving in terms of sustainability or ask about their future goals. If they’re open to growth in that area, it might feel more aligned."

Coach: "If you imagine yourself in this role a few years down the line. How does it feel to envision that experience if the alignment with sustainability remains ambiguous? What do you notice about your sense of fulfillment?"

Client: "It feels unsettling. I can see myself feeling a bit disconnected if the role doesn’t align with my values in the long term. I don’t want to look back and feel I compromised on something so meaningful to me."

Coach: "What clarity have you gained about your values and their role in your decision? How might this inform your next steps in exploring this role or other opportunities?"

Client: "I realize I need to ask directly about their commitment to sustainability. If it’s not a priority, I might need to look for roles that offer both independence and creativity within an environmentally committed organization."

Coach: "You’ve done a lot of deep work to clarify what truly matters to you. How would you describe your values to someone else now, knowing they are key guides in your career decisions?"

Client: "I’d say I’m someone who needs independence, creativity, and a strong alignment with environmental values. I see now how central these are to my fulfillment."

Through each question, the coach helped their client move from a surface-level understanding of her values to a nuanced awareness of what truly drives her. By examining potential compromises, exploring the feeling of alignment versus disconnection, and visualizing long-term fulfillment, the coach enabled them to see their values as essential guides, shaping their career choices with integrity and clarity.

In contrast, here is a brief example of how moving too quickly toward solutions, without first deepening awareness, can unintentionally bypass the client’s inner clarity and connection to what truly matters.

Coach: "Have you considered reaching out to someone in the company to ask directly about their sustainability initiatives?"

Client "I guess I could. I haven’t really thought that far yet. I’m still unsure about how I feel about the role overall."

Coach: "What small step could you take this week to get more clarity on whether this role is a fit?"

Client: (with hesitation, slightly withdrawn), “I’m not sure yet... I think I need to figure out how I actually feel about the opportunity first."

When we hold space for awareness before action, we honor the client’s inner wisdom and capacity for deep transformation.

Questions that evoke awareness allow clients to move beyond the surface of their challenges and into alignment with who they are and what they most value. This process also illuminates the unseen. uncovering hidden blind spots, patterns, and limiting beliefs that may quietly shape choices and behaviors. As these layers come into awareness, clients gain the clarity and freedom to choose more consciously and courageously. As coaches, our presence, trust in the process, and genuine curiosity become the new ground where clarity, insight, and authentic forward movement can emerge.

When we pause to ask, “Is this mine?” we reclaim the power to respond with truth instead of reaction.

When was the last time you realized a strong reaction had more to do with you than the other person? What did that moment teach you about yourself? Would love to hear your experience.

Let’s continue to journey with our clients (and ourselves) from the inside out, where the most lasting and liberating change begins.

Marilyn ox