Communication Skills & Active Listening Flashcards
7 cards from real ICF practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Communication Skills & Active Listening flashcards as text
A client says, 'I feel stuck but I can't explain why.' Which ICF-aligned response best demonstrates active listening?
Answer: Reflect the feeling back and invite the client to explore what 'stuck' means to them.
ICF active listening emphasizes reflecting the client's own language and creating space for self-exploration rather than interpreting or redirecting.
According to ICF competencies, what does 'dancing in the moment' primarily refer to in communication?
Answer: Following the client's energy and adapting questions dynamically as the conversation unfolds.
'Dancing in the moment' means the coach remains fully present and fluidly responds to what emerges rather than adhering to a preset agenda.
When a client's tone and words contradict each other, the ICF-aligned coach should:
Answer: Gently name the discrepancy and invite the client to reflect on it.
ICF Competency 6 (Active Listening) includes noticing incongruences and bringing them to the client's awareness in a supportive way.
Which of the following best illustrates 'listening at Level 3' in co-active coaching, which ICF aligns with?
Answer: The coach is aware of the client's words, emotions, energy, and the overall field of the conversation.
Level 3 (global) listening involves attention to everything in the environment—words, emotions, energy, and what is left unsaid.
A coach interrupts a client mid-sentence to share a relevant insight. Under ICF standards, this behavior most likely:
Answer: Undermines active listening because it prioritizes the coach's agenda over the client's expression.
ICF active listening requires the coach to allow the client to fully express themselves without premature interruption.
Which question best exemplifies an ICF-aligned clarifying question during active listening?
Answer: 'When you say you feel overwhelmed, what does overwhelmed look like for you specifically?'
Clarifying questions deepen understanding of the client's unique meaning without projecting assumptions or offering advice.
In ICF coaching, summarizing what a client has shared serves primarily to:
Answer: Confirm understanding, demonstrate presence, and give the client an opportunity to correct or deepen what was said.
Summaries in active listening validate the client's expression and open space for the client to affirm, add, or redirect—not simply to close a topic.