Coaching Questions — Vocabulary and Language for Scrum Masters
Learn powerful coaching question vocabulary for Scrum Masters: open, curious, and non-advisory.
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What makes a question a 'powerful coaching question'?
Powerful coaching questions are open (not yes/no), curious (not leading), and forward-looking — e.g., 'What would it look like if this worked perfectly?' They help the coachee generate their own solutions.
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What is the difference between 'advising' and 'coaching' in facilitation vocabulary?
Advising: 'You should implement daily standups.' Coaching: 'What would help your team stay aligned? What have you tried? What else is possible?' Coaching builds capability and ownership; advising creates dependency.
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Which is an example of a powerful coaching question?
'What is the most important thing you could do right now to move this forward?' is forward-looking, action-focused, and doesn't assume or judge. It helps the person identify their own next step.
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What does 'holding space' mean in coaching and facilitation vocabulary?
Holding space means being fully present, listening without judgment, and resisting the urge to fix or advise — creating psychological safety for the coachee to explore difficult topics honestly.
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What is 'the GROW model' in coaching vocabulary?
GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) structures coaching: What is the goal? What is the current reality? What options exist? What will the coachee commit to doing? Widely used by Scrum Masters and coaches.
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Sarah, the Scrum Master, is observing a team member struggling to estimate user stories. She asks: 'What assumptions are you making about the scope of this story?' This question demonstrates which key coaching technique?
This question uses 'what' and 'are' to encourage Sarah to explore the underlying reasoning behind the estimate. It's not telling the team *how* to estimate, but rather prompting them to articulate their thought process – a core element of coaching. Option 'insufficient' describes a negative constraint; options 'directing' and 'affirming' are inappropriate coaching approaches.
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David, during a daily standup, notices a developer is consistently vague about their progress. He responds with: 'Can you elaborate on the specific blockers you're encountering?' This best exemplifies which coaching approach?
The question utilizes 'elaborate' and 'specific blockers,' aiming to uncover the root cause of the vagueness. This is about gaining clarity, not assigning blame or simply restating information. Options 'delegating', 'challenging' and 'summarizing' are all misdirected responses that don't focus on understanding.
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You're reviewing a PR with the following comment: 'This code is confusing. Please rewrite it to be more readable.' Which of the following best represents the coach's intention?
The comment isn't simply a judgment; it's prompting the developer to *understand* why the code is confusing and find their own solution. 'Guiding exploration' focuses on helping them discover the root cause and approach, rather than telling them what to do – essential for coaching. Options represent different levels of directive engagement.
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Maria is facilitating a discussion about reducing technical debt. She asks: 'What's the biggest impediment to tackling this now?' This question aligns with which coaching principle?
The question is designed to uncover the *root cause* preventing action – a key element of prioritization. It's not about risk assessment or generating ideas; it's about understanding what's actively blocking progress. This focuses on a problem-solving approach, which is fundamental to coaching.
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A developer submits a PR with the following description: 'Fixed bug in user authentication.' Which follow-up question would be most effective from a Scrum Master's perspective to ensure coaching?
The question directly probes for detail about the process, allowing the Scrum Master to identify potential coaching opportunities related to communication, collaboration, or even technical depth. It's a targeted inquiry designed to elicit more information and facilitate deeper understanding – crucial for effective coaching.
What will I learn from the "Coaching Questions — Vocabulary and Language for Scrum Masters" exercise?
Learn powerful coaching question vocabulary for Scrum Masters: open, curious, and non-advisory.
Is this exercise free to use?
Yes. Every exercise on CoderSlingo, including this one, is free to use with no account, sign-up, or paywall required.
How many questions are in this exercise?
This set contains 10 multiple-choice questions, each with a detailed explanation shown after you answer.
Do I need to create an account to track my progress?
No account is required. Your progress bar and score reset each time you reload the page, but you can retry the exercise as many times as you like.
Who is this Scrum Master Facilitation exercise for?
This exercise is built for IT professionals and non-native English speakers who need to read, write, and discuss scrum master facilitation topics confidently at work.
What happens if I answer a question incorrectly?
You will see the correct answer highlighted along with a detailed explanation of why it is correct -- so every wrong answer becomes a learning moment, not just a lost point.
Can I retry this exercise?
Yes -- click "Try again" on the results screen at any time to reset your score and go through all the questions again.
How long does this exercise take to complete?
Most learners finish all 10 questions in under 10 minutes, since each question is answered by clicking a single option.
Where can I find more Scrum Master Facilitation exercises?
See the full Scrum Master Facilitation exercises hub for more vocabulary drills on this topic.
Is this exercise mobile-friendly?
Yes -- the exercise works on any device with a modern browser, including phones and tablets, with no app download required.