Although rapport built over time between the coach and client, the coach can put the right foot forward with a Design the Alliance (DA) conversation. DAs engages the client and coach in a robust conversation of many small agreements.

Inside coach-client conversations are two kinds of queries that behave like two kinds of camera lens. One lens is a portrait lens, where the focus is on the words spoken by the client. The second is a panoramic lens, where the field of listening includes observations the voice and gestures of the client.

A disruptive question catches the client, who is caught in a loop. It puts them off guard, into the hot seat, and calls upon their subconscious, by using imagery to create scenarios where the client has to respond to discomfort, difficulties, and curve-balls.