The Coaching Habit: 7 Great Questions

“To be on a quest is nothing more or less than to become an asker of questions.” Sam Keen

Michael Bungay Stanier’s book, The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever, offers seven questions that he proposes will increase our impact as Coach Leaders. 

Question 1: The Kickstart Question – What’s on your mind?
This is how we begin our conversations in a way that is focused and open.

Question 2: The AWE Question – And what else?
Asking this question, “And what else?” works as a self-management tool for us as the coach and as a boost for the other six questions.

Question 3: The Focus Question – What’s the real challenge here for you?
As the question implies, this question begins to funnel the topic in a way that focuses the conversation.  It works in conjunction with the next question.

Question 4: The Foundation Question – What do you want?
This question takes us to the heart of the matter so that our attention is on what really matters.

Question 5: The Lazy Question – How can I help?
By asking this question, we learn what the person wants our role to be. (e.g., listener, supporter, encourager, etc.)

Question 6: The Strategic Question – If you are saying Yes to this, what are you saying No to?
Saying YES more slowly means being willing to stay curious before committing.

Question 7: The Learning Question – What was most useful for you?
The Learning Question pairs with the Kickstart Question to make what Stanier calls the Coaching Bookends – ensuring conversations with you are of high value.

How will you use these questions to ensure you are using The Coaching Habit?

About Karen Anderson, PCC, M. Ed.

4 Comments

  1. Mary Patin on November 12, 2020 at 9:53 am

    I love these and thanks for sharing. Miss you guys.

  2. Kimberly Richardson on November 13, 2020 at 9:46 am

    Simple but powerful questions to help clients zero in and maximize the time.

  3. Marcia Tierney on November 15, 2020 at 3:50 pm

    Thanks Karen. Your wisdom and the wisdom you find in others is such and gift; so thank you for passing it on. I have my secret cheat sheet of questions I carry with me as an instructional high school coach, but I need to include question 3. There is so much power behind that question that can redirect an individual to what they really may need in the coaching moment, and not what they thought they needed.

  4. Christine Nesongano on August 24, 2024 at 1:30 pm

    I like question 3 too. It sets the tone for the coaching session.
    It also awakens the inner self of the person being coached enabling a deeper conversation on what matters.

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