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The Coaching Tools Handbook (50+ Free Methods)

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Download the Coaching Tools PDF for impactful, practical methods of coaching you can apply right away in your sessions.

How can this handbook help me?

  • Guide clients through difficult conversation
  • Support clients in identifying their strengths and resolving inner conflicts
  • Access methods crafted by leading experts in coaching, training, and therapy

What’s inside?

  • Step-by-step instructions for using a variety of tools, including picture cards
  • Simple yet impactful methods that make it easier to help clients reach their goals

Scroll down to discover what the handbook offers!

The Coaching Tools PDF (50+ Methods)

Some sessions hit a roadblock—clients struggle to articulate emotions, decision-making feels overwhelming, or progress stalls. These moments can leave both you and your clients feeling stuck, despite your best efforts to guide the conversation. This handbook was designed to change that as it contains over 50 detailed methods of coaching that includes step-by-step guidance, exercises, and insights grounded in proven theories.
Download the Handbook

How will this handbook make a difference in my practice?

Coaches and Mentors
Provides concrete methods to guide clients through emotional barriers and achieve clear, measurable progress in every session.

Therapists and Counselors
Offers structured, practical tools to help clients express complex emotions, resolve conflicts, and find clarity in their personal journeys.

Trainers and Facilitators

Equips you with hands-on techniques to make workshops and group sessions more interactive, engaging, and result-oriented.

Individuals Focused on Self-Development
Gives you a clear framework for personal growth, helping you reflect on your strengths, values, and challenges in a meaningful way.

What is the best coaching technique?

There is no single "best" coaching technique because the most effective method depends on the client’s needs, the coach’s expertise, and the context of the session.

However, most effective coaching techniques are grounded in proven frameworks and evidence-based practices. These approaches prioritize clarity, empathy, and actionable outcomes, making them adaptable to diverse client needs. Some of these foundational techniques include:

Nonviolent Communication (NVC)

Strength-Based Coaching

ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Coaching)

The coaching tools PDF provides a variety of approaches tailored to different scenarios, making it easy to choose methods that resonate with your client’s needs. Below you can find some of the most effective coaching methods that you can pick up directly from the the handbook.

Exploring Self-Awareness and Leadership Potential

Self-awareness is a critical factor in developing effective leaders. It influences learning, adaptability, and long-term success in the workplace. 

This method uses our deep pictures set “Leadership Inside-Out” to assess self-awareness and leadership potential by exploring the candidate’s personal vision and past experiences.

Visualize Future Leadership

  • Select a Card: Ask the candidate to pick a card that represents their vision as a future leader.
  • Discussion: Have them explain their choice, focusing on how it reflects their goals and aspirations.

Reflect on Past Experiences

  • Select a Card: Ask them to choose a card representing a previous leadership role.
  • Questions: Explore their actions, the impact they made, and lessons learned with prompts like: “What was the situation?”

Resolving Conflicts with Empathy

Conflict can escalate quickly when emotions run high, making it difficult to find resolution. This method provides a structured approach for coaches and counselors to guide individuals or groups from emotional reactions to open, constructive communication. 

Using tools like the Emotions and Needs Compass, this method fosters understanding and helps participants work toward mutually satisfying solutions.

Observations

Encourage participants to “step back” and share observations about the conflict without evaluating or assigning blame. This helps set a neutral tone for the discussion.

Feelings & Needs

Use the Emotions Compass to help participants identify specific emotions and guide them to connect their emotions to underlying needs using the Needs Compass. Help them explore how they relate to the conflict.

Requests

Once participants understand each other’s needs, prompt them to make clear, actionable requests. If conflicts arise, facilitate a discussion on how everyone’s needs can be met collaboratively.


Download The Coaching Tools Handbook

What are the 5 basic elements of a coaching session?

A successful coaching session isn’t just about conversation—it’s about structure, focus, and outcomes.  Each session builds on five key elements designed to guide clients through meaningful exploration and actionable results. Each of these steps is supported by methods in the coaching tools PDF to help you with practical exercises and tools that create impactful sessions.

Establishing the Agenda and Goals

Establishing the Agenda and Goals

Setting the stage is crucial to maintain clarity and alignment. At the beginning of the session:

  • Define what the client hopes to achieve during the session.
  • Use open-ended questions like, “What would you like to focus on today?” or “What outcome would make this session valuable for you?

This step creates a shared understanding, a principle foundational to most methods of coaching.

Exploration and Awareness

Exploration and Awareness

This phase allows clients to dive deeper into their thoughts, emotions, and challenges.

  • Discover the root of the issue and bring clarity to the client’s experience.
  • Ask powerful, open-ended questions to draw out beliefs or barriers. Reflect on their responses to highlight patterns or insights.
  • Use a tool like picture cards to help clients visually represent their emotions or challenges, making abstract feelings tangible.
Insight and Reflection

Insight and Reflection

Once awareness has been established, it’s time to turn exploration into understanding.

  • Facilitate a shift in perspective or uncover new insights.
  • Summarize key takeaways and connect them to frameworks or tools. Allow clients time to process and reflect—silence can be as powerful as words.
  • Methods from the handbook, such as values exercises, provide clients with clarity on what drives their decisions.
Action Planning

Action Planning

Clarity alone isn’t enough; it needs to translate into actionable next steps.

  • Turn insights into a practical plan.
  • Work collaboratively to identify clear, measurable, and realistic actions. Address potential obstacles to help clients feel prepared.

Tools like the Strengths Map from the handbook guides clients to align their strengths with their goals.

Closing and Commitment

Closing and Commitment

A strong finish makes sure that the session ends with direction and motivation.

  • Recap progress, solidify commitment, and leave on an empowering note.
  • Summarize the session’s key takeaways and confirm the next steps. End by asking a reflective question like, “What stood out to you most today?”
  • Encourage clients to note their commitments in a follow-up journal or with a tool provided in the handbook.

Meet the Experts

This coaching tools PDF was made by professionals in psychology, coaching, and training who brought their expertise directly from practice to share with you. Their contributions are grounded in real-world practice to make sure each method is practical and adaptable for your coaching needs.

Dr. Antje Lumma-Sellenthin

Dr. Antje Lumma-Sellenthin (Antje) took a PhD in “doctor-patient-communication” in Sweden and discovered that “communication” is what life is about.

Makoto Asahara, NCC, LPC

Makoto Asahara is a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Ohio, the United States.

Dr. Martina Nohl

Dr. Martina Nohl (b. 1969) authored the original German card deck "Sinnsuche" and developed the Essence Coaching method over many years.

Tobias Weghorn

Tobias Weghorn, co-founder and managing director at metaFox, is an engineer turned advocate for people development and mental health.

Liezl Aileen Nuñez

Liezl Aileen Nuñez (Liz), a writer and educator with degrees in Philosophy and English Studies, has a deep love for words, meaning, and storytelling.

Maximilian Friedle

Maximilian Friedle, co-founder at metaFox, boosts life satisfaction and performance for individuals, teams, and organizations.

Trisha Gil Reyeg

Trisha Gil Reyeg, Partnerships Manager at metaFox, combines her expertise in coaching tools and facilitation with a passion for self-improvement.

Natalie Weltner

Natalie Weltner, a certified coach and BAMF German Integration Instructor, uses creative methods and NLP to help migrants overcome trauma.

Joey Collazo

Joey Collazo, founder of SelfMe, uses intentional photography to help people reconnect with their true selves through moments of raw emotion and reflection.

Rebecca Slaby

Rebecca Slaby, Executive Director of AmazeWorks, fosters equity and belonging by using conversations and connections to inspire positive change and transform communities.

Louise Pascua

Louise Pascua, a Product Developer at metaFox, collaborates to create empowering tools for people development, valuing the thought process and seeing ideas come to life.

Denise Pua

Denise Pua, Marketing Lead at metaFox and licensed NLP Practitioner, transitioned from Multimedia Artist to embrace her passion for learning, challenges, and exploring cultures.

J Acosta

J Acosta, a Product Developer at metaFox and mental health advocate, designs thoughtful tools for personal growth and enjoys series marathons and good coffee in her downtime.

Mikee Arcadio

Mikee Arcadio, a Product Developer at metaFox, transforms fresh perspectives into tools that foster emotional intelligence and growth, bringing inspiration and purpose to every project.

  • The Feelings List

    Comprehensive list to help clients identify emotions and connect them to underlying needs for better communication and self-awareness.

    Download the Feelings List 
  • Values List

     A practical tool based on the Schwartz Values Model to help clients discover, prioritize, and align with their core values.

    Download the Values List 
  • Strengths eBook

    A concise resource for identifying and leveraging strengths in coaching, team feedback, or therapy.

    Download the Strengths eBook 
  • Email course

    An 8-week email series teaching projective methods and practical coaching techniques for impactful sessions.

    Download the Email course