Instant Coaching: Three Questions That Ignite Action

If your day is packed, maximize brief encounters. Turn short interactions into dynamic coaching moments. Use three questions to ignite action.

A Three Question Coaching Pattern:

#1. What’s your biggest opportunity or challenge today?

Ask about the present. Explore the world as it is. They’re ahead, behind, or on target. Maybe frustration prevails. Perhaps the team is thriving.

Coaches deal with realities.

Tip: Solving problems for others creates dependence. Coach people to find their own solutions.

#2. What do you want to happen?

Coaching is forward-facing and action oriented. The past never changes. The future is created today.

Turn conversations toward behaviors. “I want to build a team that thrives,” is a beginning, but there are no actions. How do teams that flourish treat each other? What do they do during meetings?

Always work with the person in front of you. When they want something to happen, they need to work to make it happen. They might want to change other people.

Suppose you ask, “What do you want to happen?” And they talk about a co-worker. Focus on actions they can take to resolve issues with others. Trying to control others frustrates everyone.

#3. What will you do today?

Identify two or three possible behaviors that will help them get what they want. Choose one behavior they can do today.

Suppose your team member wants to earn a promotion (see question #2). What’s one thing they can do today that contributes to future opportunities?

End with accountability. Let’s meet briefly next Wednesday to follow up.

Which of the three questions would most improve your short conversations?

What question that ignites action can you add?

4 Practices to Make Coaching Easy and Effective

https://rework.withgoogle.com/en/guides/managers-coach-managers-to-coach#introduction