Communication & Client Relations Flashcards

A client shares a painful personal story mid-session. What is the ICF-aligned response?

Answer: Acknowledge the emotion and ask what they want to do with it

ICF competency 'Active Listening' calls for acknowledging emotions and letting the client decide how to proceed.

Which question best demonstrates the ICF competency of 'Evoking Awareness'?

Answer: What would be different in your life if this belief were not true?

Evocative questions challenge assumptions and expand the client's perspective, which is central to Evoking Awareness.

During a session, the coach notices the client's energy drops whenever a specific topic arises. The ICF-aligned action is to:

Answer: Name the observation and invite the client to explore it

Direct Communication includes noticing and naming observations non-judgmentally to invite client reflection.

A client keeps using the phrase 'I have to' when describing obligations. An ICF-aligned coach would:

Answer: Reflect the phrase back and ask what it means to them

Reflecting the client's exact language and exploring its meaning honors their frame and deepens self-awareness.

Which behavior most clearly violates ICF's ethical standard regarding the coaching relationship?

Answer: Sharing the client's progress with their employer without consent

ICF ethics require maintaining confidentiality; sharing client information without consent is a direct breach.

What is the primary purpose of silence in an ICF coaching conversation?

Answer: To allow the client space to think and process

ICF-aligned coaches use silence intentionally to give clients processing space rather than filling it with advice.

A client says they want to work on confidence but their body language suggests anxiety. What should the coach do?

Answer: Gently name what they are observing and invite exploration

Active Listening includes attending to nonverbal cues and naming them as observations for the client to explore.