Why Diagnosis Comes Before Action
To coach is to diagnose. Whether you’re coaching, consulting, counseling, training, or simply engaging in a meaningful conversation — every effective interaction begins with diagnosis. Just like in medicine, the principle is simple but powerful:
Diagnose before prescribing.
Before you can help someone move forward, you must understand where they are now and what’s truly needed. Without an accurate diagnosis, any intervention risks being misplaced or ineffective.
The Challenge of Diagnosing in Coaching
Over the past two years, I’ve observed how critical this skill is, especially during Meta-Counseling sessions. The very first task a coach faces are to determine what their client truly needs — not what they say they need.
At first glance, this may seem straightforward. In reality, it’s often far more complex than most realize. Many coaches discover that diagnosing a client’s true needs is one of the most challenging parts of their role.
Beware of Self-Diagnosis
Clients usually arrive with their own diagnosis. They describe what they think the problem is, what they want to achieve, or even what solution they believe will work. However, as coaches, we must listen carefully for signs of misdiagnosis — because it happens frequently.
In fact, I estimate that around 35% of clients misidentify their goals, problems, or solutions. That’s why skepticism and curiosity are essential. Ask yourself:
- How did the client come to this conclusion?
- What assumptions underlie their diagnosis?
- What evidence supports it?
Only by questioning their perspective can we help them uncover the truth beneath their initial story.
What Is Diagnostic Thinking?
To make a sound diagnosis, you must engage in diagnostic thinking — a blend of multiple cognitive skills that allow you to see clearly, think deeply, and interpret accurately. Let’s explore these key components.
1. Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinking helps you recognize where your client currently is and where they want to go.
You assess:
- The path from present to desired state
- Whether the strategy to get there is realistic
- How appropriate the goal is within the client’s life context
(For a deeper exploration, see the book “Strategic Thinking.”)
2. Value Thinking
Every diagnosis involves understanding the criteria and values that shape a person’s evaluation of their situation.
Ask:
- What standards is the client using to judge success or failure?
- Are their values ecological and balanced?
- Are some values overemphasized or missing altogether?
Bringing hidden or distorted values into awareness often reshapes the entire problem definition.
3. Critical Thinking
Critical thinking helps you examine the reasoning patterns and sources behind the client’s beliefs.
Consider:
- Where did they learn their current diagnosis?
- Is it based on credible insight or popular culture?
Many people adopt labels like “burnout,” “depression,” or “ADD” simply because these terms are trending. Your role is to help them separate assumptions from facts.
4. Inferential Thinking
Inferential thinking involves reading between the lines — inferring what’s implied and testing those implications.
Ask yourself:
- “What does this statement imply?”
- “What assumptions must be true for this to make sense?”
- “Are those assumptions valid?”
This type of inquiry reveals the deeper structure of a client’s mindset.
5. Meta-Program Thinking
Every person filters reality through mental patterns known as meta-programs — habitual ways of perceiving, deciding, and responding.
Learning to “read” these filters allows you to understand how your client processes information and why they interpret situations the way they do.
6. Analytical Thinking
Finally, analytical thinking ties everything together. It involves breaking down the client’s story — the situation, the goal, the problem, and the proposed solution — into components for closer examination.
Here, Meta-Model questioning becomes your most powerful tool. Treat every vague or emotionally charged word as a clue to explore deeper meanings within the client’s mind.
Tools for Better Diagnosis
The Well-Formed Outcome, Problem, and Solution frameworks are invaluable in this process.
Using these structured questions helps:
- Clarify what the client truly wants
- Reveal whether the goal is well-formed
- Expose inconsistencies in how problems and solutions are defined
Each framework guides both coach and client toward a more accurate and actionable understanding.
Final Thoughts: Why Diagnosis Is Non-Negotiable
Diagnosis is not easy — but it’s essential.
Without it, how do you know what conversation to have, what intervention to design, or even whether your approach is effective?
The truth is simple:
You can’t coach effectively if you don’t diagnose first.
Great coaching begins not with answers, but with curiosity, inquiry, and diagnostic thinking.
Curated by Danielle Tan.
Reference:
- [Certified_meta-coach] 2025 Morpheus #44 DIAGNOSTIC THINKING by L. Michael Hall, Ph.D. Executive Director, ISNS.
