One of the tools in a coach's kit is the Powerful Question. It's a big one with surprising impact. We use these questions to spark introspection, rethinking, new awareness or new possibilities. A fresh perspective is often the catalyst for change and action.

We’ve put a sampling of powerful questions here (naturally in a true coaching environment our questions are tailored to your situation, but this will give you a taste and you may even surprise yourself with an unexpected insight!) and invite you to think about an issue in your professional life that’s unresolved, unsatisfying—one that may benefit from some fresh thinking on your part.

When you’re ready, press the Ask Yourself button and challenge yourself to really answer the question. Writing your thoughts down or speaking them aloud to a colleague or friend can help you clarify your thinking. If the question seems irrelevant to your situation, try again until you come upon a question that’s a better fit and prompts you to catch your breath and think differently.