5-minute coaching step 3: Ask “Did anything surprise you?”

Colleagues,

I think the second question in 5-minute coaching is the most powerful. Ask this question and watch people reflect deeply.

Step 3: Ask “Did anything surprise you?”

“No” is an acceptable answer. This is about what they think, not what you think.

If the answer is always no, that indicates a lack of trust and you have some work to do building relationships.

Why this works: On our own we frequently process the good and the bad, but we rarely process the surprising. When you ask this question, the person will replay the entire event in their head. They are re-processing from a new perspective, so it drives critical reflection, which unlocks learning.

To dive deeper into 5-minute coaching, you can listen here. 

I’m happy to acknowledge Kaleidoscope Adventures as a sponsor of yesterday’s episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast! I appreciate their support and encourage you to connect with them if you are thinking about planning a school trip!

Cheers!

Frederick