Participants on the Think Like A Coach programme often ask me, “How do you end a coaching conversation?” 

One way to think about this is that you’re helping your team member turn their thinking into action by using the coaching principle of, ‘they lead, you follow.’ 

When your team member leads the conversation they take more responsibility for their actions and are more committed to completing them. 

Here are four questions you can use next time you’re ending a coaching conversation. 

1. What’s your next step? 

This question works even if your team member hasn’t gotten to a resolution yet because it prompts them to stop and consider what needs to happen next.  

If there are lots of possibilities of what the next step could be, probe further by asking, “What else could you do?”, until they run out of ideas.  

Then help them pick one by asking “Which of these options would work the best?” 

  2. What might get in the way? 

I call this a double whammy question because it: 

Builds your team members critical thinking skills by helping them anticipate and prepare for obstacles.  
Gives you insight into potential problems early on so you can help your team member avoid them and succeed. 

  3. What help do you need from me? 

If I was to look at your to do list I bet many of the items on there are actions you have taken upon yourself to help your team member. Actions they didn’t ask you to take, but you offered to do for them. 

Notice the wording of this question, it will help you reduce your workload.  

  4. Tell your team member a quality you appreciate in them 

Ok so this one isn’t a question but it’s a great way to motivate your team because people think best when they feel valued. 

I stole this idea from Nancy Kline who wrote Time to Think which has had a profound impact on my work. 

At the end of the coaching practices on the Think Like A Coach programme I ask the participants to tell their coaching partner(s) one quality they noticed when working with them. 

It could be something such as patience, flexibility, positive outlook or empathy. 

Anything, as long as it is short, succinct and sincere 

This exercise is often cited among participants as their favourite one to do. 

All you have to say is: 
I appreciate you for your [insert quality here].

The takeaway 

Four steps is a lot of remember in the moment so my suggestion would be to start with questions 1 or 3 and then let your intuition guide you from there. 

Till next time 

Jude