Coaching in the flow of work
Step 1 / 4·The four-question frame in ten minutes
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Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Coach in ten minutes without a dedicated session
- Build coaching into your existing 1-1 rhythm
- Ask real questions rather than disguised advice
The four-question frame in ten minutes
Get a tool usable today.
The most common reason managers don't coach: 'no time'. But coaching doesn't require a formal 60-minute session — most of the best coaching opportunities last ten minutes and happen the moment someone stops by your desk with a problem.
The four questions and their purpose
| Question | Purpose | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 'What's the real problem you're trying to solve?' | Very often the stated problem isn't the actual one | 2 min |
| 'What have you already tried or considered?' | Find out where they are, avoid repeating what they've done | 3 min |
| 'What else could work?' | Push past the first option — where the good ideas usually sit | 3 min |
| 'So what will you do, and by when?' | Turn the conversation into a time-bound action | 2 min |
The heaviest question: 'What else?'
The first option someone offers is rarely the best — it's just the easiest to think of. Ask 'what else could work?' two or three times, even after they've gone quiet. The good idea usually appears on the third pass, after an uncomfortable silence you have to be patient enough not to fill.
Key takeaway: Four questions in ten minutes: real problem – what's been tried – what else – what next; ask 'what else' repeatedly.