Coaching is one of the most important and worthwhile leadership skills you could develop. Through coaching, you can help your team members unlock their potential and maximize their performance. The practice of coaching can also help leaders refine their communication skills and build stronger relationships with their team members.

The great thing about coaching is that you can do it anytime — it doesn’t have to be during formal one-on-ones. Lara Hogan, an author, public speaker and coach, has put together some examples of creative ways you can use coaching questions in your day-to-day interactions. We share her suggestions in this issue of PromoPro Daily.

1. Share and then ask. This approach can help change a conversation from a one-way feedback dump into a collaborative problem-solving session, Hogan says. Here’s how to do it: Share your observation of someone’s behavior and the impact of that behavior. Then, ask an open question.

2. Go from advice-giving to brainstorming. It’s natural to want to give advice when we’re trying to help someone, Hogan says, but this can short-circuit the learning process for the other person. If someone asks for advice, say, “Sure, but first I want to ask you a few questions.” This is important because everyone has a unique perspective, work context and skillset.

3. Help people feel heard. If you know someone is going through a frustrating time or experiencing a project roadblock, ask some coaching questions to get them to reflect, share and arrive at new insights. Hogan says chances are, they’ll walk away from the chat feeling supported and heard.

4. Get unconventional. For example, you might keep a printed list of coaching questions along with a 20-sided die at your desk. During one-on-one discussions, you could have your team member roll the dice and see what question you ask. It’s okay to invite some silliness into the process, Hogan says.

5. Begin one-on-ones in coaching mode. You may not typically begin your conversations this way, which can make it effective. Hogan says just be sure to let the other person know you’ll be asking more open-ended questions than normal.

6. Stay in coaching mode. Rather than switching gears into boss or mentor mode, be intentional about asking coaching questions. Actively listen to the responses, Hogan says, and then see where the conversation goes.

Learning how to use coaching questions creatively can lead to more meaningful conversations with your team members. Consider the expert tips above to help your staffers expand their capabilities and grow in their roles.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Lara Hogan is an author, public speaker and coach for managers and leaders across the tech industry. As a founder of Wherewithall, Lara and her team run workshops, roundtables and trainings on core management skills.