When people think of coaching, they often think of “goal setting.”
And indeed, clarifying goals is an essential element of coaching.
However, through many coaching conversations with clients, I occasionally find myself wondering: “Is this truly the topic the client needs to explore in this session, right now?”
Because goals are set within the context of a topic, choosing the wrong topic can lead the client to put effort in a direction that is clear but misaligned.
No matter how specific or well-defined a goal may be, if the topic itself is off target, the coaching conversation may not lead to the insight or progress the client actually needs.
“What would you like to think through or talk about today?”
We will explore how I view topic setting in coaching, and what criteria I use when helping a client clarify the theme of a session.
Table of Contents
Who Owns the Coaching Topic?
First and foremost, just as the goal and action plan should belong to the client, the topic itself should also belong to the client.
It should never be something the coach imposes, suggests, or leads the client toward.
That said, the question “What would you like to think about?” can sometimes feel highly abstract and difficult to answer.
Especially today, if you ask generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, you can quickly receive information that sounds like an answer. You can also easily find voices on social media from people who are facing similar challenges.
Even so, what kind of topic is truly worth spending about an hour exploring deeply with a coach, a real human being?
To put it plainly, the quality of a coaching session may, in fact, depend largely on what kind of topic the client prepares before the session even begins.
If the client chooses a topic casually or impulsively, the session will naturally move toward setting a goal based on that topic. The conversation will then spend time designing actions toward that goal.
However, actions created in this way are often not carried out. And without action, the goal is unlikely to be achieved.
As a result, a coaching session that required a meaningful investment of time and money may end up feeling far less valuable than it could have been.
Of course, there is no universally “right” coaching topic that applies to everyone. The appropriate topic depends on the client.
Still, if you are currently receiving coaching, or considering working with a coach in the future, it is worth learning how to choose a topic that will make your session more meaningful and valuable.
Why Topic Setting Matters
A coaching topic is the question the client most wants to face in the present moment. It is the starting point for the interests, discomfort, concerns, and aspirations that emerge from deep within the client.
As mentioned earlier, goal setting only becomes meaningful in relation to that topic.
Carefully identifying the right topic helps sharpen the clarity of the goal and transforms the client’s actions into something more essential and meaningful.
Five Perspectives for Choosing a Coaching Topic
If you often struggle to decide what topic to bring to each coaching session, consider the following five perspectives.
Is This Something You Want to Explore Now?
A coaching topic does not have to be about the “future” or the “past.” What matters is whether it is something worth facing here and now.
During a coaching session, you may naturally touch on your future vision or reflect on what you have done in the past. However, those are ultimately supporting elements that help you better understand what is happening in the present.
- What is most on your mind at this point in time?
- What is something you have been feeling you need to face sooner or later?
Does the Topic Feel Emotionally Meaningful?
When a topic brings up emotions, it often points to a deeper source of energy.
Emotions can be a sign that the topic matters to you.
The moment your emotions begin to move is the moment a topic starts to come alive.
- Have you recently experienced anything that made you feel unsettled, frustrated, anxious, or excited?
- What values, hopes, or desires might be hidden beneath those emotions?
Is This a Question Only You Can Answer?
A coaching session is a space where the client deepens their own thinking.
That is why it is meaningful to choose a topic that leads to a question only you can truly answer.
- Is there something that still does not feel quite right, even after asking AI or searching online?
- Is there something for which you feel you need to find the answer within yourself, rather than relying on someone else’s opinion?
Do You Have the Intention to Create Change?
Coaching is a process of shifting both mindset and behavior.
For that reason, the topic you choose should contain your own intention to change something.
- Do you sense that something may shift by exploring this topic?
- Do you feel a sense of discomfort with your current situation and a desire to do something about it?
Do You Want to Organize Your Thoughts by Talking It Through?
Through the process of putting thoughts into words, things that were previously unclear can begin to come into view.
That is why the coaching space, where you think while speaking, can be so powerful.
- Is something going around and around in your mind, but likely to become clearer once you put it into words?
- Is this a topic that feels difficult to organize on your own?
A coaching topic is often broad, vague, and not yet fully organized. However, when the goal begins to emerge clearly through dialogue with a coach, it may be a sign that you are ready for meaningful change.
Topic Setting Is a Question You Ask Yourself
Coaching is a journey of questions.
It all begins with asking yourself, “What question should I be facing right now?”
And the process of engaging with that question becomes the starting point for the insights and actions that can have real meaning in the client’s life.
“If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions.”
― Albert Einstein ―
Einstein, best known for his theory of relativity, is often said to have emphasized the importance of defining the problem before trying to solve it. If given one hour to solve a problem, he would spend 55 minutes clarifying what the problem truly is, and the remaining five minutes thinking about solutions.
This illustrates just how important it is to understand what the real problem is and what question we truly need to face.
In other words, once the right question is set, the answer, or solution, often begins to emerge naturally.
If you are a coach, gently support your clients through dialogue so they can discover their own questions.
If you are a client, take the time to explore what you truly want to think about through a conversation with a real human coach, not AI, not social media.
There, you may find the focus of your life: something that has not yet fully become words, but that you can clearly feel within yourself.
Disclaimer
This article has been prepared by Cornerstone Strategy LLC for informational purposes only. It is based on generally available information, including publicly available guidelines, regulations, and case law related to U.S. human resources, employment, tax practices, organizational and talent development, leadership development, career development, and coaching. It is provided from the perspective of an HR consultant and coach.
Cornerstone Strategy LLC is not a law firm, accounting firm, licensed tax advisory firm, medical provider, psychotherapy provider, counseling provider, or any other licensed professional practice providing legal, tax, medical, psychological, or therapeutic services.
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