There are a number of ways to help people focus on what they want. One simple approach is to ask questions about what the person needs to continue, stop, or start doing.
For example, think about your current job performance.
• What are you currently doing that’s working you would like to continue to do?
• What are you currently doing that you need to stop doing?
• What is one thing you are not currently doing you would like to start doing?
Using one or more of these simple questions can start a nice dialogue. When you get a reasonable response from the coachee about what they want to continue, stop, or start, you could follow up with a set of questions such as, “Could you make that happen? Would you be willing to make that happen?, and “When will you make that happen?