Breaking Free from the 1-10 Trap: Elevating Coaching Conversations Beyond the Scale

I've never been a fan of the ubiquitous 1-10 scale question in coaching. It's a tool that's become almost synonymous with quick assessments, but in my experience, it often falls short of fostering the depth and richness that effective coaching demands. By moving away from this overused approach, we can create space for more nuanced and engaging conversations that truly tap into our clients' experiences and aspirations. It's time to retire the 1-10 scale and introduce alternatives that provoke deeper reflection and more meaningful dialogue.

Avoiding the ubiquitous scale question in coaching can be beneficial for several reasons:

1. Lack of Specificity: The scale often results in a numerical response without delving into the underlying reasons for that rating. It doesn't naturally lead to a discussion about the specifics of what is working well or what needs improvement.
2. Overused and Predictable: Many clients have encountered this question repeatedly, making it feel clichéd and potentially disengaging. The familiarity of the question can lead to rote answers rather than genuine reflection.
3. Limited Insight into Emotions and Motivations: The scale focuses on a client's surface-level assessment rather than exploring the emotions, motivations, and deeper thoughts that influence their perception. This can limit the richness of the coaching conversation.
4. Binary Thinking: The scale can unintentionally encourage binary thinking, where clients might focus on whether their rating is closer to one end of the scale or the other, rather than exploring the nuances of their experiences and perspectives.
5. Missed Opportunity for Metaphorical Thinking: Open-ended or metaphorical questions can invite clients to think more creatively and deeply about their situation. For example, asking, "If your progress were a journey, what kind of terrain are you navigating?" can lead to a more vivid and insightful discussion than a simple number rating.
6. Encourages Passive Evaluation: The scale often positions the client as an evaluator rather than an active participant in their growth process. Questions that focus on actions, feelings, or future steps can be more empowering and proactive.

Marion Franklin, MCC, and author of the popular The Heart of Laser Focused Coaching, argues that such questions often fail to provoke deep thinking and can result in superficial responses. According to her, effective coaching should encourage clients to explore and think in ways they haven’t before, which scale questions typically don't achieve. Instead of numerical ratings, Franklin advocates for questions that invite clients to reflect more deeply, leading to a more profound and impactful coaching experience.

For instance, rather than asking a client to rate their progress on a scale, she would recommend asking questions that get to the heart of their experience or challenge, thereby fostering a richer dialogue.

Here are some open-ended questions that can elicit a similar response to a scaling question without directly using a scale:

1. "Where are you with achieving this goal right now?"
2. "What’s your current level of readiness to take the next step?"
3. "In what ways do you feel prepared to move forward with this?"
4. "What does your motivation to work on this goal look like today?"
5. "What is your confidence level on your progress on this?"
6. "Where do you see yourself in relation to this goal right now?"
7. "What is the gap between where you are now and where you want to be?"
8. "What is your commitment to this goal at this moment?"
9. "What do you feel is the next step in moving closer to your goal?"
10. "What signs or indicators tell you how far you've come with this goal?"

These questions encourage the client to reflect on their current position relative to their goal, allowing for a nuanced discussion that can naturally lead to an understanding of where they stand.