How to coach your employees with questions

As an executive, manager or supervisor you are supposed to have all the answers. After all, that is why you get paid the big bucks: to solve problems. And most of the problems you deal with are typically people problems. If there are people challenges in your organization, then as the leader you are the answer.

But what if it’s the questions that you actually need?

In his new book The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead, best selling author Michael Bungay Stanier notes that the key to successful leadership is successful coaching. But he also says, “You’re probably not getting very effective coaching; and you’re probably not delivering very effective coaching.” The difference between ineffective and effective coaching is asking questions. But not just any questions: the right questions.

In his book, Bungay Stanier offers the seven best questions any manager can ask an employee to improve their performance. Below are three of those questions and how to best implement them. For the remaining four, be sure to pick up a copy of The Coaching Habit (it has tons of solid information to grow your leaders).

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