Coaching question deck

32 original questions organized around the GROW model - Goal, Reality, Options, Will. Save the ones that fit a real conversation, then copy or download that short set.

  • 32 questions
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Save a question below and it'll show up here, grouped by step.

    Goal

    Get clear on what this specific conversation needs to accomplish.

    • What would make this conversation worth having, for you?
    • If we only get through one thing today, what should it be?
    • What does a genuinely good outcome look like here - not the easy one, the good one?
    • Whose goal is this, really - yours, mine, or theirs?
    • What's the smallest version of success you'd still count as real progress?
    • Is this a decision we need to make today, or a direction we need to agree on?
    • What happens if we leave this conversation without resolving anything?
    • A month from now, how will you know this conversation actually helped?

    Reality

    Get an accurate picture of what's actually happening - not a flattering or catastrophizing one.

    • What have you already tried?
    • What's actually gotten in the way, specifically?
    • How would someone else describe this situation, if they weren't you?
    • What part of this is fact, and what part is your read on it?
    • What's the piece of this you haven't said out loud yet?
    • On a scale that's honest, not diplomatic, how bad is this really?
    • What's changed since the last time this came up?
    • What would you need to admit is true for this to make sense?

    Options

    Generate real possibilities before evaluating any of them.

    • Setting aside whether it's realistic - what would you do if nothing were in your way?
    • What else could you try, besides the first thing that came to mind?
    • What's an option you've already ruled out - and why, exactly?
    • If you had to pick two options instead of one, what would they be?
    • What would the bravest version of this look like?
    • What would you tell a friend in your exact position to do?
    • Which of these options is easiest to reverse if it turns out to be wrong?
    • What haven't we considered yet because it seemed off the table?

    Will

    Turn the conversation into a specific, checkable commitment.

    • What, specifically, will you do - not "try to do" - by when?
    • How will you know it actually happened, not just that you meant to?
    • What could get in the way of this actually happening?
    • What's the very first step - today or tomorrow, not eventually?
    • Who else needs to know about this commitment for it to stick?
    • On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you this will actually happen - and what would move that number up?
    • When should we check back in on this?
    • What would make you quietly let this slide without telling me?

    How this works

    Every question below is tagged to one of the four GROW steps. Browse by step, save the ones that actually fit the conversation you're about to have, and build a short set - most real one-on-ones only need one or two questions per step, not all 32. Your saved set stays in this browser and can be copied or downloaded as plain text to bring into the conversation.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are these the same questions as any published coaching handout?

    No. All 32 questions are original, written from the public GROW structure - Goal, Reality, Options, Will - not copied or adapted from any third-party coaching material.

    How many questions should I actually bring into a conversation?

    A handful, not all 32 - most real one-on-ones only need one or two questions per step. Save the ones that fit your specific conversation and build a short set instead of a script.

    Do I have to use them in Goal, Reality, Options, Will order?

    That order is the point - see the GROW model reference below for why skipping straight to Options is the most common way this kind of conversation goes sideways.

    Is anything I save sent anywhere?

    No account or server upload is required. Your saved set stays in this browser unless you clear it yourself.

    Go deeper

    The GROW coaching model Read what each step actually does Compassionate Accountability Planner Build a full one-on-one agenda Leadership Lab All free leadership tools and guides All free tools Browse the full list

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