The Art of Visual Questioning: Enhancing Your Coaching Techniques with Picture Cards

Every coach understands that the questions they pose to their clients are the catalysts for transformation. Some coaches adhere to the traditional method of questioning, while others believe that provocative questions are the key to unlocking their clients' potential for change.

These coaches are not bound by the traditional methods of questioning. They have embraced a unique approach, using picture cards and other visual aids to ask questions, guide reflection, and foster deeper insights and understanding.

In this article, we'll delve into the benefits of visual questioning and provide a practical, step-by-step guide for seamlessly integrating picture cards into your coaching practice.

Visual stimuli capture attention more effectively than words. Picture cards immerse clients in the session, leading to heightened focus and engagement. For instance, when you present images depicting various scenarios or emotions, clients react instinctively, breaking down barriers and fostering openness.

Picture cards aid in retaining information. The dual coding theory suggests that our brains store verbal and visual information. Visual metaphors enhance memory retention and recall, making it easier for clients to apply insights in real life.

Pictures evoke emotions and help clients access subconscious thoughts and feelings. This can lead to breakthroughs that verbal questioning alone might not achieve. For example, clients might choose a picture of a stormy sea to represent their emotional state, facilitating a meaningful discussion about their feelings.

Eva Gottschewski, a freelance coach and organizational developer at ETH Zürich, said, “Using the images, I experience time and time again that participants share their thoughts much more concretely. Academics, in particular, tend to hide their feelings behind fancy phrases; through working with images, they can share what they think and feel.”

Picture cards create a safe space for clients to project their feelings and experiences. For example, expressing their feelings might be unusual and challenging for a client like the stereotypical male engineer. Instead of talking about anxiety or beliefs about their self-worth, they might find it easier to approach these topics by describing the picture of a rough mountain and how it relates to their inner world.

The abstract nature of some pictures stimulates creative thinking. Clients can draw unique connections between the cards and their situations, opening up new perspectives and solutions. For instance, a picture of a tangled forest might prompt a client to explore feelings of being lost and inspire thoughts about finding new paths.

Discussing selected pictures helps clients gain more profound self-awareness. This process can reveal underlying beliefs and values influencing behavior and decision-making. For example, a picture of a calm ocean representing a desired state of mind can lead to insights about valuing peace and stability amidst life’s stressors.

Working with our picture cards within a coaching context is simple. This section will review the basic process for guiding clients through meaningfully exploring images.

metaFox describes this picture card process in three phases: Preparation, Facilitation, and Debriefing. Each phase has corresponding steps.

You’ll find more of the processes here in The Coaching Tools Handbook, which is available for download.

Choosing the right picture card set is crucial for making your coaching sessions impactful and engaging. At metaFox, we offer various picture card sets tailored to meet diverse coaching needs. 

Here’s how to choose the perfect set to align with your coaching objectives:

1. Define Your Session Goals

   • Deep Reflection Sets: Evocative images for introspection and uncovering hidden emotions. Check out deep pictures “Growing Together” and deep pictures “Leading Change .”

   • Creative Thinking Sets: Abstract images that spark innovative ideas and out-of-the-box thinking. If this is right up your alley, consider the deep pictures "Dreamland".

   • Group Dynamics Sets: Ideal for team-building, focusing on collaboration and communication. A good example here would be the deep pictures "Effective Organizational Development".

2. Consider Your Clients

   • Youth Sets: Bright, engaging images for younger audiences. Our deep pictures “Where I Belong” is one of our go-to card sets.

   • Cultural Sets: Diverse images that are culturally relevant and sensitive. One of our best products under the cultural set is the deep pictures “Embracing Diversity” card set.

   • General Audience Sets: These versatile images are suitable for various coaching scenarios. We highly recommend deep pictures “Original” if you want a multi-purpose card set.

3. Plan for the Session Format

   • One-on-One Sets: Intimate images promoting deep personal exploration. Products like deep pictures “Life Design” and deep pictures “Leadership Inside-Out” fall under this category and are great for any one-on-one session.

   • Large Groups and Outdoor Sets: Easy-to-share images for group discussions. Take your outdoor or large group sessions to new heights with a larger version of our best-selling product, deep pictures “World of Emotions .”

   • Virtual Session Sets : High-resolution digital images optimized for online use. You can use our app, icebreaker , to check out digital versions of our products, which you can use for your coaching or workshop sessions.

4. Focus on Specific Themes

   • Emotion Sets: Help clients articulate and process a range of emotions.

   • Strengths Sets: Empower clients to explore their strengths and abilities.

   • Values Sets: Facilitate discussions around core values and motivations.

Find the perfect picture card set at metaFox to transform your coaching sessions.

The arrangement of picture cards can profoundly influence the dynamics and outcomes of your coaching sessions. Different layouts create unique atmospheres, facilitate diverse interactions, and uncover distinct insights. Thoughtful arrangement enhances engagement, stimulates reflection, and fosters meaningful conversations.

Grid Layout

A grid layout makes structured discussions come alive. Its organization aids in precise analysis, easy comparison, and focus on individual cards and their connections, making it ideal for identifying patterns and themes.

Circular Layout

A circular layout promotes inclusivity and unity. It encourages viewing from all angles, fostering open dialogue and collaborative exploration. It is perfect for group cohesion and consensus-building.

Discover more layout options in The Coaching Tools Handbook to elevate your coaching sessions.

When asking our participants to choose a card, we don’t want to say outright “CHOOSE A CARD” without context. For example, if you want to open your session with picture cards, you could ask a prompt such as “What picture best describes you today?”

Other examples of effective prompts:

• "Select a picture that symbolizes your biggest strength."

• "Which card reflects your current emotional state?"

• "Choose an image depicting a goal you aspire to achieve."

• "Find a card illustrating a recent challenge and how you overcame it."

• "Pick a picture representing a core value you hold."

Here are a few tips on how to define your next session’s prompts using our picture cards:

1. Clarity and Simplicity - Keep prompts simple and straightforward to avoid confusion, ensuring participants engage without hesitation.

2. Relevance to Session Goals - Align prompts with your session’s objectives, whether exploring emotions, identifying strengths, or understanding dynamics, to ensure purposeful responses.

3. Open-Ended Questions - Encourage broad thinking with open-ended questions, fostering richer discussions. For example, "Which image represents your feelings about this situation?"

4. Encouraging Reflection and Connection - Ask participants to connect images to their experiences, stimulating introspection. Prompts such as "Choose a card that resonates with your current state of mind" enhance personal relevance.

5. Adaptability - Be prepared to tweak prompts as the session evolves to better fit group or individual dynamics.

Your participants' choice of picture cards will profoundly shape their insights and experience.

Individual Selection

Participants pick cards independently, encouraging personal introspection and unique perspectives, ideal for self-awareness and personal development.

Random Selection

Place all cards face down for random selection. Then, participants draw cards randomly, introducing surprises and sparking unexpected insights. This activity is excellent for breaking routines and encouraging creative thinking.

Intuitive Selection

Encourage card choices based on gut feelings to tap into subconscious thoughts and emotions. This is ideal for deeper, authentic reflections in emotional intelligence sessions.

More creative ways to go about with card selection can be found on The Coaching Tools Handbook

Once participants have chosen their picture cards, your next step is to guide them through interpreting their choices to uncover deeper insights and foster meaningful discussions.

Prompt participants to reflect on their card choices, considering what resonates with their thoughts, feelings, or experiences. Give them time to think and reflect.

You can also ask guiding questions to prompt deeper analysis, such as:

• "What emotions does this image evoke?"

• "What story or scenario does this picture remind you of?"

• "What aspects of this picture stand out and why?"

• What do you see in this picture?

• What shapes and colors do you see?

• Which detail catches your eye the most? What does it represent for you? 

• How does the picture relate to [coaching topic] for you?

• What do you think needs to be added to the picture?

• Where could this place be?

• What else do you see?

After interpreting the picture cards, the next step is translating insights into actionable steps, fostering real change.

Develop Action Plans

Encourage participants to create specific, actionable plans that align with their insights. Set clear goals, identify steps, and determine timelines. For example, leverage a personal strength depicted in a card to achieve a goal.

Follow-Up and Accountability

Plan follow-up sessions to review progress. Encourage sharing updates and reflections to maintain accountability.

Celebrate Achievements
Recognize and celebrate progress and milestones to reinforce positive change and motivate continued effort.

By initiating action, participants can translate insights from picture cards into tangible outcomes, ensuring lasting and meaningful change.

The last step in the session involves deep reflection. This allows participants to consolidate their insights, consider the implications of the session, and evaluate their experience.

To properly guide your participants through the debriefing process, consider following the 4F’s:

• Feelings : How do you feel right now after going through this exercise?

• Facts : What happened in this exercise? What was surprising or interesting?

• Findings : What did you learn about yourself throughout the exercise? What are your key takeaways?

• Future : With these findings, what can you concretely do differently now?

The debriefing process aims to give your participants a proper closure by allowing them to express their feelings and provide any support when needed properly. A sense of closure also wraps up the session positively and your participants will leave feeling empowered and hopeful. 

Visual questioning with picture cards is a powerful tool that can enhance your coaching techniques and create more meaningful client interactions. By leveraging the cognitive advantages of visual information, you can unlock deeper insights, facilitate creative thinking, and improve client engagement.

Ready to elevate your coaching practice? Start integrating picture cards into your sessions and experience the transformational impact they can have on your clients. Picture cards can inspire profound change and growth, making your coaching practice more effective and rewarding.

Sign up today to join our community of forward-thinking coaches . As a member, you'll gain access to exclusive resources and materials, including workshops on visual questioning techniques and a curated library of picture cards designed to inspire growth and understanding. We're here to help you become a more effective coach.

1 - IFVP. (n.d.). This is why our brain loves pictures. Retrieved from https://ifvp.org/content/why-our-brain-loves-pictures

2 - Bonn Institute. (n.d.). Why images are so powerful — and what matters when. Retrieved from https://www.bonn-institute.org/en/news/psychology-in-journalism-5

3 - simpleshow. (n.d.). Explaining the Dual Coding Theory. Retrieved from https://simpleshow.com/blog/explain-dual-coding-theory/

4 - Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rethinking-thought/202104/seeing-the-light-how-visual-mental-imagery-can-evoke-emotion