Spark a conversation

Ask questions about projects.
Most people are familiar with their projects, so you will likely successfully spark a conversation if you ask people questions about what they’re working on. For example, you could ask if they are enjoying their current project.

Talk about people.
Ask your coachee about their relationships with their fellow teammates.

Focus your discussions on behavioral patterns
Identify the behavioral patterns and work habits of the person you intend to coach. This will help you identify the areas that need some change.

Ask one question at a time.
When you ask too many questions simultaneously, the other person may miss out on answering some of them.

Listen attentively without interrupting.
Listen quietly to the answers to your questions. This will help you understand the person you want to coach well.

Find out what's on their mind by asking.
Simply ask, “What’s on your mind?” This question gives them the opportunity to delve directly into the things that are important to them at the moment.