Why Pictures Speak Louder Than “How Are You?” — The Power of Visual Coaching Tools

Lloyd M
Oct 23
3 min read

We’ve all been there standing in front of someone, asking the familiar question: “How are you?”And almost instantly, the default answer comes back: “I’m fine.”But are they really?

In a world where we move quickly and often talk more than we listen, people especially teens and young adults can struggle to express what’s really going on inside. That’s where tools like the MetaFox “How Are You?” image cards come in.

🌈 A Picture Speaks When Words Don’t

Instead of asking “How are you?”, imagine laying out one of these vibrant image grids

“How are you on a scale of Wolves?” or “How are you on a scale of Sunflowers?”

and saying:

“Which one feels most like you today?”

It sounds simple, but it’s powerful.With just one visual cue, you’ve replaced a routine question with a genuine invitation to connect.

The person doesn’t need to find the perfect words they just need to point to an image that feels right. From there, coupled with active listening, a mix of open questions, closed questions and probing questions and the conversation flows naturally, often revealing emotions and insights that might have stayed hidden otherwise.

💡 How to Use the Tool

Set the Scene: Choose a card deck or image scale that fits the moment Wolves, Sunflowers, Water, Foxes, Eggs or Emojis. Create a relaxed environment and let the person take their time to look through the images.
Ask Gently: Start simple:
“Which image best shows how you’re feeling right now?” This question removes pressure and opens a visual doorway into emotion and self-expression.
Listen Deeply: Once they’ve chosen an image, invite them to share why. It might be the colour, the mood or even a small detail that reflects how they feel each clue is a window into their world.
Use Different Question Types to Deepen the Conversation
- Open questions: invite reflection and detail:
  “What about this image speaks to how you feel today?”“How would you describe what’s happening in that scene for you?”
- Closed questions: help clarify or confirm:
  “Would you say you’re feeling more calm than anxious?”“Are you comfortable talking more about that?”
- Probing questions: go a little deeper:
  “What do you think has contributed to feeling like this?”“If you could shift towards another image, which one would it be and what might help you get there?”
Explore Together: Build on what they share by asking:
“What’s happening in that space for you?”“What might help you move from one picture to another?”“What do you need most right now?”
Reflect and Reset: End the conversation with a sense of movement and hope. Ask them to choose an image that represents where they’d like to be by the end of your conversation, day or week.This simple act helps shift focus from awareness to action.

💬 Why It Works

Visual tools like these bypass logic and language barriers, helping people express feelings that are often hard to name. They work beautifully in coaching, mentoring, schools, families, and workplaces because they:

✅ Reduce pressure and defensiveness

✅ Encourage emotional literacy and reflection

✅ Build empathy, trust, and connection

✅ Transform “surface talk” into real conversation

🌟 Real Impact, At Work and Beyond

At work, we use these MetaFox images to help start conversations and encourage each other to talk more openly. It’s incredible how a single picture can spark meaningful dialogue. Sometimes, it’s just easier to use an image than to ask, “How are you?” directly and the depth of response is far greater. I also use these images in my coaching and training sessions, with people I support and even at home with my kids, family, and friends. And I can tell you honestly: they work wonders.

The moment someone connects to a picture, their guard drops, their words flow and the conversation shifts from routine to real. Whether it’s a colleague feeling overwhelmed, a teen who can’t find the right words, or a friend who just needs to be seen the tool opens the door. As one parent told me after trying it:

“The pictures did what words couldn’t, they helped us actually talk.”

🙏 Special Thanks

A huge thank you to Max from MetaFox for sharing these wonderful tools and inspiring deeper, more authentic conversations everywhere.These visuals remind us that emotions don’t always need to be explained, sometimes, they just need to be seen.

❤️ Final Thought

Next time you’re about to ask someone “How are you?”, try showing them an image instead. You might just open the door to the conversation they’ve been waiting to have.

Want to explore more tools like this?Visit www.L2MCoaching.com for simpole yet effective coaching resources that help people open up, reflect and grow one picture at a time.