The most valuable coaching questions

Participants in the courses on peer coaching skills usually ask me which coaching questions are suitable for using in everyday life in conversations with their peer teachers and students. Here are some simple examples.

Ask for concrete examples:
Tell me an example of this.
How exactly?
What do you like about this?
What is stopping you?
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Ask for more:
Tell me more.
What else?
Describe in more details.

Encourage ideas:
What do you suggest?
What can you do differently?
When have you solved something similar?
What sources do you have?

Develop an action plan:
What will be your first step?
What is your next step?
What will you do in case of obstacles?

Sometimes these examples sound just too simple. They are simple indeed, but we usually do not use them in our conversations, because we are too overwhelmed with talking, giving advices, sharing our own experience and showing how smart we are. Try stop talking and ask questions instead. You will be surprised how valuable can be your support if you show it with questions rather than advices. It is a powerful tool for professional development of teachers.