I think you should always enter client meetings with a clear understanding of your desired outcomes. Advance preparation, including the formulation of your preferred questions, is essential. What questions do you find most effective? Customise them to align with your personal questioning style, and ensure they remain open-ended. It's crucial to avoid the common practice of extracting information solely to manipulate the client. Instead, aim to have the client do the majority of the talking, encouraging them to share anecdotes and stories. This approach maximises their willingness to unveil their underlying challenges.