A Coaching Tip That Will Save You Lots of Time

Have you ever found yourself in a coaching session or a problem-solving discussion that seems to go on forever without getting to a solution?

Here's a common pattern why. When someone comes to you with a problem, it's natural to ask:

"What have you tried so far?"

But this question often leads to a lengthy discussion about things that didn't work, consuming valuable time and energy.

Here's a powerful tip to make your coaching conversations more focused and productive:

Instead of asking what they've tried, ask:

⚈ "What have you learned from what you tried so far?"

This question encourages the other person to draw meaningful conclusions.

⚈ "What's the No. 1 thing you learned from what you tried?"

Inviting conciseness helps keep the conversation on track.

⚈ "How would you phrase your learning from what you tried in a short headline?"

Challenging them to summarize their insights fosters clarity and brevity.

⚈ "What have you learned from what you tried, and how will knowing this help us solve your problem?"

Directing their learning towards a specific goal ensures progress.

By rephrasing your questions about past the ‘history’ strategically, your conversation becomes solution-focused much faster.

And there’s more where this comes from!

Mastering techniques like this is just one aspect of becoming a skilled coach-like Leader. If this made you curious, I invite you to consider our upcoming IntelliCoach PRO program, starting in September 2024. We designed this ICF-accredited 68-hour certification program for leaders to help you coach others for performance and growth with ease.

As part of our early bird promotion, we're offering this fully online IntelliCoach PRO certification track at just USD 3,500 right now (saving you USD 1500 from the full price!). If you'd like to learn more, simply reply to this email, and I'll be happy to provide you with more details.

Wishing you a productive and fulfilling week ahead!