Coaching Prompts

Coaching Prompts

Coaching Prompts are designed to gather data, push thinking and guide the individual toward solving problems. Coaching is most effective when done in the presence of evaluation and the absence of judgment – allowing curiosity to guide the Prompts. Some of the prompts below can be turned into declarative statements depending on whether you are building a relationship with the person or have an established, trusting one.  Prompts are in no particular order.

• What’s clearer to you since we last met?
• What good things have happened since we last spoke?
• Tell me more about that.
• What have you already tried?
• What would you like me to know?
•   I’m wondering…

• How have you solved other similar problems?
• What’s at stake?
• What outcome do you want?
• Are there things you are worried about regarding the process or outcome?
• What is your job supposed to be?
• Do you have the tools you need?
• What does your manager expect of you?
• (When a person says: I don’t know), respond: If you did know, what would you say?
•  If you were coaching someone, what would you tell them?
• How would you redirect that scene?
• How do you think your demeanor presents to others?
• Are you able to put yourself in the other’s shoes?
• How do you foster relationships?
• Can you articulate how your scope is wider this year than last year?
• Are you being effective?
• How will you know when you’re successful?
• What are the consequences of that action?
• Help me understand The Why of The What.
• Does your staff know The Why?
• Do your students?
• Is it urgent?
•  Is this thought True?
• What are your goals?
• What habits do you want to build and what habits do you want to break (in specific growth areas)?
•  What do you find challenging about leadership?
• What are you good at?
• Can you sort these tasks by importance?
• What’s your strategy?
• What are you encouraged by?
• How do you usually solve problems?
•  Do your teachers know what is expected of them?
• Are you thinking as a teacher or a leader?
• When you coach teachers, what are you learning?
• How do you spend your time with teachers?
• Are you being busy about the right stuff?
• What are the 2 things you do really well that you can choose as priorities?
• What is the collective thing the group is pushing for?
• What can you work on that you have passion for?
• What can you delegate?
• What are you doing that’s having an impact on Kids?
•  That’s a strong reaction
• A pattern I notice is…
• Drama is seductive. 
• What’s going to work in the long run?
•  Silence.

Check in during the session:

·       Is this helpful?

·       What do you need more of? Less of?

·       What worked?

·       What didn’t work?

·       What leadership lessons have you learned today?