The Coaching Mindset
Skill: Shift from “answer-giver” to “catalyst”
Many leaders received promotions because they were able to resolve problems quickly. The trap? Your team waits for you to think for them. Coaching flips that script. Your role is to develop teammates who share responsibility, not to shoulder everything alone.
Here’s a simple move I teach in The Coaching Edge to make that shift in real conversations this week:
The Ask–Don’t–Tell Pivot (30 seconds)
3-beat pause. When someone brings a problem, breathe in, out, in. Give your brain — and theirs — space.
Reflect on what you heard. “So the renewal timeline moved up two weeks, and you’re short a resource.”
Ask one catalyst question instead of answering:
“What options have you already considered?”
“What would ‘good enough for now’ look like?”
“If I weren’t here, what would you try first?”
Why it works
Builds ownership. People commit to what they create.
Scales your time. You stop being the bottleneck.
Grows judgment. Every question strengthens their decision-making muscle.
Try this 5-day micro-challenge
Day 1: Pick one meeting you’ll coach, not solve.
Day 2: Keep a tally of answers given versus questions asked. Aim for a 1:2 ratio.
Day 3: Use the phrase “What’s the real challenge here for you?” and wait a full 5 seconds.
Day 4: When giving directions, add: “What would you do differently next time?”
Day 5: Ask your team: “How did my questions help — or get in the way — this week?”
Watch-outs
Don’t weaponize questions (“Don’t you think…”). Ask with curiosity, not judgment.
Don’t abdicate. Coaching doesn’t mean hands-off; it means just the right level of support.
If you want a team that thinks, decide to stop being the answer. Start being the catalyst.