Today’s giving: Mentored a fellow Toastmaster over breakfast. 

I’m not a professional coach or teacher. Nor do I claim to be particularly learned about mentoring, but there is one thing I know.

People hold their own answers.

Those answers can be brought out with well-placed questions.  And if they find their own answers, they are more likely to implement their own solution.

I’ve also helped my Destination Imagination teams in this way. The teams are not allowed any outside help when solving the team challenge. But I can ask questions which force them to think about their solution in new ways.

Asking the right question is not always easy, but it may be more effective than giving advice.