Every day we experience many possible coaching opportunities in our workplaces, homes, and schools. Taking a coach approach in any given situation is an intentional choice to apply active listening and thoughtful question-asking to strategically support someone’s growth and development. In this post, I share tips to recognize, respond to, and maximize a coachable moment.

In my conversations with leaders in various contexts, it is clear that coaching is used as a ‘buzz’ word to describe many behaviors: continuous ‘checking in’ on a person’s progress; giving recommendations and advice; and sharing wisdom from experience.

Perhaps you also view coaching as a fuzzy and hard-to-define concept. How do you differentiate coaching from other similar functions such as consulting or mentoring?

Asking questions is a seemingly simple part of our everyday conversations. However, the types of questions we ask can make a big impact in shaping our perceptions, experiences, and relationships. The topic, type, tone, and timing of our questions definitely matter.

So, what makes some questions better than others?

According to recent research conducted by Google, employees desire managers who can skillfully coach them— and this desire ranks as a top rated (no. 1) manager behavior.

What is your capacity for coaching others to greater growth and discovery?

A friend of mine recently asked me to explain coaching- why would someone hire a coach? Is this like doing yoga once a week? What’s the point? Is it really worth the investment?

If you’re curious, read on to learn more about what professional coaching is, as well as several research-supported benefits…