Good leaders are good problem solvers. But, great leaders don’t just solve problems, they empower OTHERS to solve problems by helping them get to the root—not just by “fixing it” for them.
When leaders coach their team based on the root of the problem, they inspire engagement, collaboration and innovation. That’s being proactive.
The opportunity: slow down, listen…and practice being a coach leader.
It’s important to consider what’s at stake if coaching conversationsdon’t happen:
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Ongoing Struggles & Stagnation 🚧
Without uncovering the root cause, employees remain stuck in the same patterns—leading to frustration, missed goals, and declining confidence. -
Unresolved Issues Snowball ❌
Avoiding tough conversations doesn’t make problems go away—it allows them to grow into bigger challenges that become harder to solve. -
Lost Opportunities for High Performance 🚀
A leader’s ability to actively listen, coach, and guide their team toward success is the difference between a team that simply meets expectations and one that thrives. -
Lower Engagement & Motivation 😕
Team members who feel unheard or unsupported often disengage—leading to a culture of “checking out” rather than stepping up. -
Increased Turnover & Loss of Talent 💼
When employees aren’t included when it counts, they seek growth opportunities elsewhere—taking their skills, knowledge, and potential with them.
When leaders don’t take the time to have coaching conversations that get to the root of the problem and inspire ownership and action, they risk more than just a disengaged employee—they risk the overall performance and morale of their entire team.
There is a better way! 🙌🏼
How to have a breakthrough coaching conversation…
One of my favorite tools to share with leaders is the Coaching Cheat Sheet.
This is something you can use if you don’t have a lot of time but want to get to the root and effectively address the problem or issue.
You can use this cheat sheet as a framework for a conversation with a direct report, a colleague, or even to coach yourself.
If you want to get to the root of a problem and get into positive action around it, here are 10 steps…
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Name and describe the situation.
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What about the situation is important now?
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What are the facts surrounding the situation? (specific, not general)
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What are the emotions, assumptions, or interpretations involved in the situation?
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What actions have been taken so far?
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…
To access the steps 6-10, click here.
Get the full coaching cheat sheet.
Let’s get to the ROOT, and into ACTION!
Here’s what I know—great leaders don’t just solve problems. They coach, listen, and empower their teams to break through challenges and reach their full potential 🎉
The next time you notice an employee struggling or feeling stuck—or the next time you face a complicated problem—pause and ask yourself:
🔹 Have I really listened—actively and without assumptions?
🔹 Have I helped them uncover the real obstacle, or just addressed surface-level symptoms?
🔹 Am I equipping them to take action, or leaving them to figure it out alone?
💡 I invite you this week to: Commit to having one coaching conversation with a team member using the Laser Coaching Convo Cheat sheet as the framework.
You’ve got this!