Communication & Active Listening Flashcards
7 cards from real MCC 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 & Active Listening flashcards as text
The ICF Core Competency 'Communicates Effectively' includes the ability to:
Answer: Use direct communication to share observations without attachment
Effective communication includes sharing observations directly and without attachment, trusting the client to use them as they see fit.
A client is telling a long story about a conflict with their manager. As an MCC, you would:
Answer: Listen for the underlying theme or pattern, then gently name it
MCC-level listening involves tracking patterns and themes in what clients share and surfacing them to deepen awareness, not just waiting for the story to end.
Which of the following is a primary risk of the coach talking too much in a session?
Answer: The coach's voice may overshadow the client's own wisdom and agency
Over-talking shifts the session from the client's agenda to the coach's, undermining the fundamental coaching premise that the client is the expert on their own life.
'Curiosity' as a communication stance in coaching means:
Answer: Showing genuine interest in the client's experience without needing a particular answer
Coaching curiosity is about authentic interest in the client's experience and perspective, with no agenda for a specific outcome or answer.
A coach opens a session by asking, 'What would you like to take away from today's session?' This demonstrates which communication principle?
Answer: Establishing a client-centered coaching agreement for the session
Opening with this question establishes a client-centered agenda, aligning with the ICF competency of establishing the coaching agreement.
When a client says one thing but their body language conveys something different, an MCC coach should:
Answer: Name the observation and invite the client to explore what is present
Naming incongruence between verbal and non-verbal cues, then inviting exploration, is a hallmark of MCC-level listening and communication.
The primary reason a coach avoids giving unsolicited advice is:
Answer: It preserves the client's autonomy and trust in their own wisdom
Coaching philosophy holds that the client is the expert on their own life; giving unsolicited advice undermines their agency and self-trust.