Ask These 7 Coaching Questions to Celebrate Your Clients' Achievements!

We live in such a goal-oriented culture. We like to "do" things, so that we can "have" what we want. It's why so many people hire coaches!

But all too often, while people get a thrill from achieving their goals, they usually move straight onto the next thing. They don't stop to celebrate—and they don't acknowledge their learning and growth.

So as we head towards the new year, it's a great time to help your client pause and celebrate the successes they've achieved.

Why it's important to celebrate success

So, why is it so important to stop and celebrate our successes? Well, as coaches, a key part of our role is to help people see how they've grown.

And while celebrating our achievements is (of course) uplifting, it also helps us believe in ourselves, and develop confidence and healthy pride.

Celebrating success provides solid proof that we're learning, growing and succeeding in life (even when our inner critics might be telling us otherwise).

Not only that, but humans do seem to have a habit of focusing on what's wrong—instead of what's right! In neuroscience this is referred to as negativity bias. And celebrating can help us move the needle toward the positive.

So as coaches we can really make a difference by taking the time to celebrate our clients' successes with them.

Celebrate what you want to see more of. Thomas J. Peters

Here's a simple 2 step process you can follow with your clients (with questions!)

STEP 1) Ask your clients to make a list of everything they've achieved this year

You can do this with your clients as an exercise, or discuss the concept and then offer it as homework. And you could even create a session specifically to help your client celebrate their successes of the year—and really honour themselves!

Here are 7 Coaching Questions to help:

1. What were your biggest achievements this year?
2. What are you most proud of?
3. What did you achieve that surprised you?
4. What 'smaller', less obvious things are you proud of achieving this year? What did you achieve that only you would know or care about?
   
5. What steps have you made towards larger goals, that you need to acknowledge yourself for?
6. Where did you fail or make a mistake, yet you learned and are proud of how you handled it?
7. How have you grown as a person?

Put yourself in a state of mind where you say to yourself, "Here is an opportunity for you to celebrate like never before, my own power, my own ability to get myself to do whatever is necessary. Anthony Robbins

STEP 2) Decide how to celebrate their success

The second step is all about making sure your client actually celebrates their success. So help your clients brainstorm celebration ideas and rituals, and then commit to one action.

• Ask: What will you do to celebrate, recognize and acknowledge these achievements?
  • Use the 4 Ws (plus an H): What, When, Where, with Whom and How would you like to celebrate?
• Brainstorm some ideas, then ask: What will you commit to do and when?

Some examples of how to celebrate success could include: a personal ritual, dinner out, a hike out in nature, buying themselves something special, having a massage or spa day, a fun event etc.

Wrap-up

The important thing about celebrating is that your clients consciously do something in honour of themselves and their success.

And remember that the more significance the celebratory action has for them, the more uplifting and memorable it will be!

People of our time are losing the power of celebration... Celebration is an active state, an act of expressing reverence or appreciation... Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions. Abraham Joshua Heschel