{"id":"mgr-x-coaching-questions-only","audience":"managers","category":"meetings","track":"productivity","technique":"constraints","title":"Coach with questions instead of handing over answers","free":false,"task":"Your report Ivy brought you a problem, and you want to coach her to her own solution instead of telling her what to do. Write exactly 4 numbered open questions, plain text, under 85 words, in a sensible coaching order (goal, current situation, options, first step). No advice, no suggestions disguised as questions, and nothing from your private opinion.","materialLabel":"Ivy's problem and your notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Ivy (shift supervisor, distribution center) in our 1:1:\n\"Our pick rate drops every afternoon. Mornings we're at 140 picks/hour, after 2pm it's down to 105. I don't know if it's breaks, the heat, or the new hires. I want to fix it before peak season starts Nov 15.\"\n\nWhat she's already tried: moved one break 15 minutes earlier. No change.\n\nMy private take (don't say): I think it's the new hires. They're all on the afternoon shift. I'd pair each with a veteran. Also the fans in aisle 9 are broken.\n\nMy coaching goal: Ivy owns this and grows as a problem solver. Last month I just told her the fix for the loading dock issue and she said later she wished she'd figured it out herself.\n\nFormat: questions I can ask in our next 1:1 on Thursday.","rules":[{"type":"numberedItems","count":4},{"type":"maxWords","max":85},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Asking 'how should I help her'","why":"The AI gives you a diagnosis and a fix, the opposite of coaching.","fix":"Be exact: \"Only 4 numbered open questions I can ask her. Plain text.\"","checks":["numberedItems","plainText","r2"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each question instead: \"each question under 15 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Questions that hide advice","why":"The AI slips in 'Have you looked at the new hires?', which is a suggestion with a question mark.","fix":"Add: \"No suggestions inside questions. Don't mention new hires, fans or heat.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"No coaching order","why":"The AI asks questions in random order and skips the first step.","fix":"Add: \"Order: goal, current situation, options, first step.\"","checks":["r0"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Asks for questions only","patterns":["only questions","questions only","no advice","don'?t (tell|advise)"]},{"label":"Bans hidden suggestions","patterns":["suggest","leading","new hires","have you tried"]},{"label":"Gives the coaching order","patterns":["goal.{0,30}(situation|reality)","first step","order"]},{"label":"Sets the number of questions","patterns":["\\b(4|four)\\b.{0,15}question"]},{"label":"Sets a word limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)"]}],"hint":"AI loves to solve the problem for you. Tell it you want questions only, in a coaching order, and that your own theory stays out.","rubricLabels":["All 4 are open questions (none can be answered yes or no), in a coaching order: goal first, then current situation, then options, then first step","No question contains advice or a suggested answer (no mention of new hires, pairing with veterans, fans, aisle 9 or heat as the cause, and no 'Have you tried...' or 'What if you...' suggestions)","There is no intro, explanation, tips or text other than the 4 questions"]}