{"id":50459,"date":"2021-09-28T01:07:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-28T05:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=50459"},"modified":"2021-10-05T09:57:37","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T13:57:37","slug":"powerful-coaching-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/powerful-coaching-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2 Powerful Coaching Questions You Should Ask"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are some powerful coaching questions? How can you help your employees in a big way simply by asking the right questions<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a manager, you want to help your team members think strategically, make better decisions<\/a>, learn new skills, and grow in their work. You can do all of this simply by asking two powerful coaching questions: the strategic question and the learning question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn how to ask these powerful coaching questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Powerful Coaching Questions You Should Ask<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can help your team members improve greatly simply by making a habit<\/a> of asking them two powerful coaching questions. The first is the strategic question: \u201cWhat\u2019s the cost of saying \u2018yes\u2019?\u201d This helps employees think through their options and make better decisions. The second is the learning question: \u201cWhat insights did you gain?\u201d This helps employees learn new skills and grow in their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Strategic Question: \u201cWhat\u2019s the Cost of Saying \u2018Yes\u2019?\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In a fast-moving, highly competitive work environment, employees are often asked to take on more and more tasks, even when their plates are already overflowing. For example, they\u2019re asked to sit in at a meeting, to join a committee, or to take part in out-of-office activities on top of their existing responsibilities. Despite being overloaded, they tend to say \u201cyes\u201d to more tasks because they associate being busy with being successful, and it\u2019s often hard or awkward to say \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you see team members contemplating an opportunity or additional responsibilities, you can help them make the best decision by asking them this question: \u201cWhat\u2019s the cost of saying \u2018yes\u2019?\u201d<\/strong> As with all powerful coaching questions, you want to make this a habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why This Question Is a Good Coaching Habit<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

According to psychologists, two factors lead to poor choices when it comes to deciding whether or not to take on new tasks. First, people believe they can do more than is actually possible. Second, people tend to overvalue what they have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the workplace, these two factors show up as team members who are overwhelmed because they don\u2019t have a realistic understanding of the commitment needed for all the new tasks coming their way, and they\u2019re unwilling to let go of anything they\u2019re already doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asking powerful coaching questions such as, \u201cWhat\u2019s the cost of saying \u2018yes\u2019?\u201d leads a person to evaluate and be realistic about the time, energy, and resources he\u2019ll need to expend to accomplish a task. It also leads him to reflect on the value of his pre-existing tasks, and whether he\u2019s willing to sacrifice them to fully commit to another task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Read our guide to Daniel Kahneman\u2019s Thinking, Fast and Slow<\/em><\/a> to learn more about the psychological phenomena directing our decision-making<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Make It a Habit<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Asking powerful coaching questions should be part of your routine. A team member who\u2019s considering taking on additional tasks should trigger you to ask, \u201cWhat\u2019s the cost of saying \u2018yes\u2019?\u201d Then, you can guide him to make an informed decision with two further steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) Ask Him to Reflect On the 3Ps <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Have him outline the projects<\/em> he\u2019ll need to give up to take on this new responsibility, the people<\/em> who will be affected by his decision, and the patterns<\/em> and behaviors he\u2019ll need to overcome to accomplish the new task. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) Give Him the Tools to Say No <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Explain that there are two ways to turn down new opportunities that make the process a bit easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) The \u201cslow yes\u201d:<\/strong> In response to the offer of a new task, he should ask questions that give a clearer picture of the commitment required, such as, \u201cWhat\u2019s the timetable?\u201d and, \u201cIf I can only commit x hours, what would you like me to do?\u201d Such questions will lead to one of four outcomes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n