Where you can apply this tool
Use the Be The Coach Challenge to build coaching skills in everyday moments.
1:1 Conversations
Have more meaningful conversations with colleagues, team members or direct reports.
Team Meetings
Spark deeper dialogue, encourage new perspectives and build a more coaching-informed culture.
With Yourself
Use curiosity-based questions for personal reflection, learning and setting your next steps.
A coaching-informed question can shift any moment — not just a formal coaching session.
For today’s activity
Quick examples
Six questions to borrow from while you write your own.
Learn
“What are you learning about yourself?”
“What has this taught you?”
Be
“What characteristics do you rely on?”
“What energy do you want to bring?”
Do
“What’s a right-sized action this week?”
“What action is fully in your control?”
Learning & Being questions: Coach Training EDU (CTEDU)
Beyond this activity
For other scenarios
A coaching-informed question can shift any moment — not just a formal coaching session.
| Question type | In a 1:1 | In a team meeting | With yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learn | “What is this working relationship teaching you?” | “What can we implement differently based on the data?” | “What matters most to you in this situation?” |
| Be | “What role can you usefully play here?” | “How can we improve collaboration?” | “Who do you want to be for others right now?” |
| Do | “What will you commit to before we meet again?” | “What is the deadline?” | “What’s one small step you could take today?” |
Coach Training EDU (CTEDU)
Be The Coach Challenge
The Be The Coach Challenge is an interactive practice tool that helps participants build coaching skills by asking open, curiosity-based questions, receiving feedback, and creating their own Learn, Be, and Do questions to use in everyday conversations.
Goal:
Step into the role of a coach and practice asking open, purposeful questions using simple coaching techniques learned in the session.
Assign roles
Working in a group of 3, each person selects a role:
1Coach
Asks questions
2Client
Shares their topic
3Evaluator
Observes Do’s & Don’ts
Opening questions
The Coach asks both questions below to establish the topic and its importance:
The Coach asks three follow-up questions
The Coach asks 3 open, curious follow-up questions based on what the Client shared. Coach ensures they follow the ‘Do’s’ criteria below:
Do:
- Ask open-ended questions
- Stay curious
- Start with What or How
- Keep questions short
Don’t:
- Don’t explain or lead
- Don’t ask yes/no questions
- Don’t jump to solutions
Evaluator feedback
The Evaluator shares:
Rotate roles
Switch roles and repeat.
Create your own Learn, Be, or Do question
Learn
Learning questions surface what’s becoming clear about the situation.
Be
Being questions explore the characteristics, energy, or perspective needed to move forward.
Do
Doing questions turn insight into a clear, positive, right-sized action to take.
Learning & Being questions: Coach Training EDU (CTEDU)
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