If there’s one thing my students and clients consistently say about me, it’s this: I’m always responsive to good questions. Why? Because great coaching starts with great communication — and that includes knowing how to ask questions that lead to deeper understanding, clearer direction, and better outcomes.

Whether you're a coach-in-development seeking clarity from your mentor, or a personal trainer trying to spark more insight from your clients, knowing how to ask better questions is a superpower. So let’s explore how to do it well.

1. 📋 Provide the Necessary Context

Before asking: Have I given all the information someone would need to give me a quality answer?

When asking your mentor for advice, the more relevant context you give, the better the answer you’ll receive. If you're asking a question about a client, a training plan, or a business challenge — include the goal, the backstory, what you’ve tried, and what’s unclear.

This same principle applies when coaching clients. Vague questions like “How are you feeling?” won’t get much traction. Try:
👉 “How did your body feel during your second set of RDLs compared to the first?”
👉 “Was there anything that made staying on track with food tougher this week?”

2. 🔍 Check for Existing Resources First

Before asking: Have I checked if this is already covered?

If you’re working through a course, program, or mentorship material — do a quick scan through the modules, videos, or PDFs. Often, the answer is there, waiting to be uncovered. This isn’t about gatekeeping knowledge; it’s about building resourcefulness — a key trait in high-performing coaches.

The same goes with clients. Before answering a question for the third time, prompt them:
👉 “Let’s pull up your nutrition guide and walk through it together.”
This teaches them self-leadership and accountability — cornerstones of long-term success.

3. 🧠 Don’t Default to Lazy Questions

Before asking: Is this something I could have Googled or reflected on first?

There’s a difference between curiosity and convenience. Questions like, “Where does the lat attach?” or “How many calories are in an egg?” can often be found with a 10-second search. Before you ask someone else to take time out of their day, take that 10 seconds yourself.

Encourage clients to do the same. Instead of handing them every macro breakdown, coach them to think it through. Empowerment > dependency.

4. 💡 Be Open to Being Wrong

Before asking: Am I okay with being corrected?

When you’re learning, you will be wrong — a lot. That’s not a flaw; that’s the process. Feedback from your mentor isn’t criticism, it’s course correction. Embrace it.

And when working with clients, model that same openness. Let them see that being wrong isn’t a setback — it’s a setup for learning. Invite their questions and reflect their answers with patience and perspective.

5. 🔄 Have I Asked This Before?

Before asking: Is this a retrieval issue, not a knowledge issue?

If you’ve asked the question before and still don’t remember the answer, don’t be discouraged — just practice retrieving it. Try recalling the module, discussion, or notes it came from. The more you train your brain to retrieve knowledge, the more effective you’ll be as a coach.

Similarly, help your clients build that same skill. Instead of re-answering the same check-in question, ask:
👉 “You mentioned that last time. What did we talk about that worked then?”

Final Note: Use the Community

If you’re part of a mentorship or coaching group like MPC, post your questions in the community page. This keeps learning public, shared, and searchable — and benefits others who may be wondering the same thing.

The Better You Ask, the Smarter You Get

Great questions don’t just get quick answers — they spark deeper thinking, lead to better coaching, and build stronger relationships. Whether you're guiding a client or asking your own mentor, the best coaches ask better questions — not more questions.