LPC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield LPC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the most appropriate way for a coach to handle client records after an engagement ends? → Store them securely for the agreed retention period and dispose of them properly
2. Which of the following is a motivational strategy in coaching? → Positive reinforcement
3. A coach notices a coachee has two goals that compete for the same limited time. What is the most effective coaching response? → Help the coachee prioritize or integrate the goals based on values
4. When estimating coaching's effect on a sales increase, why do practitioners apply an attribution or isolation adjustment? → To account for other factors, such as market changes, that also influenced results
5. What type of question encourages deeper reflection from a client? → Open-ended question
6. In organizational coaching, who typically owns the session agenda? → The coachee, within goals aligned with the organization
7. Which budgeting approach requires every expense to be justified from scratch each period instead of being based on last year's figures? → Zero-based budgeting
8. In the GROW coaching model, what is the primary purpose of the 'Reality' stage? → Exploring the coachee's current situation and obstacles
9. A leader consistently aligns actions with stated values, shows self-awareness, and practices balanced processing. This best describes: → Authentic leadership
10. A leader keeps adding new initiatives without stopping any old ones, and the team is overwhelmed. What strategic concept should the coach raise? → Strategic trade-offs and initiative pruning
11. Which type of question is most aligned with coaching best practice? → What would success look like for you in this situation?
12. A coachee reveals information indicating a serious legal violation. How should the coach respond? → Follow the confidentiality exceptions agreed at contracting and applicable law
13. Which ICF core competency centers on helping clients turn insight into action? → Facilitates client growth
14. Why is it recommended to agree on success metrics with the client and sponsor at the start of a coaching engagement? → It aligns everyone's expectations and defines how progress will be judged
15. McClelland's Acquired Needs Theory identifies which three needs? → Achievement, affiliation, power
16. According to the ICF Code of Ethics, when multiple parties are involved, the coach should: → Clarify the roles, responsibilities, and rights of all parties in the agreement
17. An employee has the skills for a task but shows low commitment. Under Situational Leadership, which style fits best? → Supporting
18. A client repeatedly misses sessions and does not complete agreed actions. What is the most appropriate coaching response? → Explore the pattern openly with the client and revisit commitment and the agreement
19. A coachee notices that accounts receivable is growing much faster than sales. What does this most likely indicate? → Customers are paying more slowly, which may signal collection problems
20. What is the main benefit of setting short-term goals? → Maintain motivation through small wins
21. Which leadership approach best supports strategic planning? → Collaborative leadership that empowers team members and fosters innovation
22. When should a coach discuss the limits of confidentiality with a client? → At the beginning, during contracting
23. In Tuckman's model, a team that has resolved conflicts and begun to agree on roles and working agreements is in which stage? → Norming
24. Which feedback approach balances both positive and corrective input? → Use the sandwich method
25. In a Kanban system, what is the main purpose of setting work-in-progress (WIP) limits? → To improve flow and expose bottlenecks by limiting how much work is underway at once
26. A coach helps a leader identify which internal resources are valuable, rare, hard to imitate, and organized for use. Which framework is this? → VRIO analysis
27. Which stage of the Bridges Transition Model is characterized by confusion, low morale, and uncertainty? → The Neutral Zone
28. What is the main focus of performance coaching compared with developmental coaching? → Improving specific job-related skills and results in the near term
29. What is the primary objective of performance metrics in professional practice? → Creating sustainable value for all stakeholders
30. Why should 360-degree feedback raters be selected with input from both the coachee and their manager? → To increase the credibility and acceptance of the results