Using questions as a coaching tool was first and foremost used by one of the greatest Coaches of all times – Socrates, the father of Western Philosophy. His approach of using questions to explore moral concepts and common believes came to be called the Socratic Method and is still one of the most popular teaching tools to help students develop critical thinking.
Here are 5 questions you may ask yourself to start of the year:
- If you were to live your Life the way you really like, what is the first change you would make?
- What do you want more of in your Life? (make a list)
- What do you want less of in your Life? (make a list)
- What would you try if you knew that you could not fail?
- What is the one thing you could change in the way you feel, act or live that would give you more peace?
Socrates was considered a wise man, in fact the Oracle in Delphi declared him to be the wisest man of all. When Socrates heard this he was amused and curious at the same time. What did the Oracle mean? Was this a joke, a challenge? He decided to investigate. The following months he talked and questioned all the smart and influential men in Athens. He questioned them on their believes, their concepts and teachings…and by questioning them in his special way he revealed this: those men’s knowledge was very superficial, they did not really know what they proclaimed to know. And the worse part was that they did not realize it. So now he understood the Oracle’s declaration – He was wise, but only in so far as that he knew that he knew nothing.
- Convictions when held too tightly, blind us in a way that traps us within our own opinions. In other words, without the capacity to question our selves, the possibility of real thinking ceases. If we are not able to question our own ideas we cannot free ourselves from self-imposed limitations -
with my best wishes for 2009 and enjoy finding out more about your self!
Christiane
