Want your team to think for themselves? Change how you ask questions
Do you wish your team would take more ownership and think for themselves?
Then try this coaching challenge: In your next conversation, only ask ‘What’ questions.
It’s a small shift that builds confidence, improves decision-making, and stops you from accidentally steering the conversation.
For example:
What would you ideal outcome be?
What’s stopping you from getting that?
What options can you see right now?
What’s one thing you could do now to take you a step closer?
What can I do to help you?
Why ‘What’ questions make you a better manager
‘What’ questions are focused on the other person. They invite curiosity, encourage exploration, and help people find the solutions themselves. They don’t subtly insert your opinion or lead the conversation in a specific direction.
Contrast that with these:
> Have you thought of…?
> Do you think that…?
> Is it possible that…?
> Have you considered…?
These look like questions but are really your opinion disguised as a question, or as I call them, qu’gestions.
They hint at what you think the person should do, rather than letting them figure it out themselves.
If you want your team to think more for themselves, build confidence, and be more independent, try switching to ‘What’ questions.
And guess what? That’s coaching.
Try it and let me know
Give it a go in your next conversation—whether with your team, a colleague, or even at home. Notice what changes.
Then, drop me a line and let me know how it goes—I love hearing from you and will reply within the week.
