The best coaching questions are simple. In this video, we offer up a few simple yet powerful questions you can use with your team.

The Five Questions:

1. Tell me more.
2. What do you want?
3. What are the alternatives
4. What have you tried?
5. What do you recommend?

Questions help us:

1. Investigate the core problem instead of just the surface problems
2. Understand where there are gaps in confidence or capability in our team members
3. Discover additional detail around the presenting or core problems

When we consistently ask questions in response to team member problems, we teach those team members what they can expect from us as leaders.

Critically, questions are how we communicate partnership, respect, and collaboration. They are the primary tool of the coaching leader.