One of the most common complaints I hear from managers is: 

“I wish my team could come up with their own solutions instead of coming to me every time.” 

When I ask what their response usually is when someone brings them a problem, the answer is often: 

“I tell them what I think they should do.” 

And there it is. If you want your team to think for themselves, you need to create space for them to do it. Otherwise, you risk becoming the team’s default problem solver and your team starts doubting their own thinking and comes to you even more. 

Here’s a coaching technique I love for this: the feedforward technique. It’s fast, empowering, and helps your team reconnect with their ability to solve tough problems. 

Step 1: Ask for a positive story from the past 

Ask your team member to share a story about a challenge they overcame, something they’re proud of. It doesn’t need to relate to the current issue. In fact, it might work better if it doesn’t. 

Step 2: Identify what conditions made success possible 

Spend time helping them see what they did to make it successful. This reinforces that their success wasn’t luck. Use questions like: 

• What made it a positive experience? 
• What were you feeling? 
• What was the outcome? 
• What was in place that helped you succeed? 

If they start focusing on what went wrong (and they probably will), gently bring them back: 

“I can hear how frustrating that part was, but tell me more about what went well.” 

Remember to use the, tell me more and summarise elements of the Coaching Two-Step to help your team member to think more about their answers. 

Step 3: Activate their ‘connection machine’ 

Now comes the magic. Our brains love to connect the dots and solve problems, especially when we’re in a positive state. 

Remind them of their current challenge and ask: 

“What have you learned from the experience you described that could help you now?” 

That’s it. Stick to the question. Stand back and let the silence do its work. 

Step 4: Support refinement, not redirection 

Once they’ve shared their insight, you can help refine their solution: 

• What would you differently next time? 

If you have information or useful advice, share it here. Otherwise, hold back. Let them own the solution. 

The beauty of this approach is it sparks the mindset of I’ve done it before, I can do it again. It energises your team and reconnects them with their own resourcefulness. 

And the best part? It takes less than 15 minutes.