As the role and expectation of a leader evolves to include a “coach” mindset, asking more questions will not only empower your teams, but help you engage them.

A study was conducted with medical students to evaluate the impact of questions on the feeling of engagement with rounds. The study found that the questions not only made them feel rounds were more worthwhile, but also felt more engaged.

Try and ask at least one of these questions in your next five conversions. What did you notice?

• **Question 1: The Kickstart Question – What’s on your mind? **This is how we begin our conversations in a way that is focused and open.
• Question 2: The AWE Question – **And what else?**Asking this question, “And what else?” works as a self-management tool for us as the coach and as a boost for the other six questions.
• **Question 3: The Focus Question – What’s the real challenge here for you? **As the question implies, this question begins to funnel the topic in a way that focuses the conversation. It works in conjunction with the next question.
• **Question 4: The Foundation Question – What do you want?**This question takes us to the heart of the matter so that our attention is on what really matters.
• **Question 5: The Lazy Question – How can I help?**By asking this question, we learn what the person wants our role to be. (e.g., listener, supporter, encourager, etc.)
• **Question 6: The Strategic Question **– If you are saying Yes to this, what are you saying No to? Saying YES more slowly means being willing to stay curious before committing.
• **Question 7: The Learning Question – What was most useful for you?**The Learning Question pairs with the Kickstart Question to make what Stanier calls the Coaching Bookends – ensuring conversations with you are of high value.

The Coaching Habit by Michael StanierShields, H., Pelletier, S., Roy, C., & Honan, J. (2018). Asking a Variety of Questions on Walk Rounds: a Pilot Study. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 33(6), 969-974.