5 Coaching Questions Every Leader Should Ask This Week
You don’t need a coaching certificate to lead like a coach. Start with these five questions.
After 30+ years in HR and leadership, I’ve noticed the best managers don’t have all the answers. They ask better questions. Here are five you can use in your next one-on-one.
1. “What’s on your mind?”
Simple, open and surprisingly powerful. It lets the other person set the agenda, which tells you what really matters to them.
2. “And what else?”
The first answer is rarely the real one. Asking “what else?” once or twice gets you to the heart of it.
3. “What’s the real challenge here for you?”
This moves the conversation from the situation to the person, where the real leverage is.
4. “What do you want?”
It sounds obvious, but most people haven’t said it out loud. Clarity on the goal makes the next step obvious.
5. “How can I best support you?”
Instead of jumping in to fix it, ask. You’ll often find they need far less from you than you’d assume, and they’ll grow more because of it.
Want to sharpen your own leadership? Explore coaching packages or book a free call.
HR executive, certified coach, U.S. Coast Guard veteran and founder of The Optimized Life Vibe. More about Stacey