Coaching, Mentoring and Managing: A Coach Guidebook

(Steven Felgate) #1

Exercise: Creating Open-Ended Alternatives ....................................................


Earlier we looked at examples of closed-ended questions and
at the open-ended alternatives that would encourage things like
dialogue and mutual respect. Now it’s your turn to provide the
alternatives. Rewrite each of the questions shown here into
questions that accomplish one or more of the five objectives
just discussed.

The ability to ask open-ended questions is vital to your
success as a counselor, a mentor or a coach. Take every
opportunity to ask questions. They let you tap into the unlimited
resources of the people who work for you.

Coaching, Mentoring and Managing

5


Closed-Ended Questions Open-Ended Alternatives

How long are we going to have _______________________________
to put up with this kind of _______________________________
behavior from you? _______________________________

What in the world made you _______________________________
do such a dumb thing? _______________________________

Is this the best you can do? _______________________________
_______________________________

Didn’t I ask you not to _______________________________
do it that way? _______________________________

Everyone else has to suffer _______________________________
because of your mistakes. _______________________________

If you can’t get this right, _______________________________
how can I trust you with _______________________________
more responsibility? _______________________________

You are becoming known _______________________________
as a problem. _______________________________
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