If I were to give unsolicited advice to anyone who wants to be a better coach, the best thing I could tell them, ironically enough, is that they ought to give less advice and ask more questions.

That’s my coaching mantra in a nutshell. Say less, ask more.

And if I had to narrow in and offer the best coaching question in the world, it would be the AWE question: And what else?

These three words are so simple, but you’d be surprised at their effect. Asking “And what else?” keeps you quiet (thereby providing less advice) and encourages your employee to come up with more—more ideas, more (and hopefully better) possibilities and options. Better options influence better decisions, and better decisions lead to greater success. The AWE question works as a boost in most coaching conversations.

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