MAD LEADERS BLOG

Most 1:1s are well-intentioned—but too often, they stay surface-level.
Task updates, status checks, a few polite nods... then back into the daily churn.

But great 1:1s? They’re something else entirely.

They unlock trust, spark motivation, build clarity, and re-energise your team members toward what matters most. They create space for meaningful reflection, bold ideas, and aligned action.

I’ve been helping leaders shift from “check-in mode” to “coaching mode” for over 20 years through 1:1 coaching and leadership programs.

In my Elevate in 90 Days Leadership Program, we dedicate an entire lesson to conducting powerful 1:1s—because when done right, these conversations become a cornerstone of purpose-led leadership.

To help you elevate your own 1:1s, here are 70 coaching-style questions to bring out the best in your team members.

🔹 Clarity + Direction

These questions help uncover alignment, confusion, and deeper career aspirations:

• What’s feeling clear in your role right no

  ...

Ways I can help further:

Click to learn more about the Elevate in 90 Days Program

Click to book a time to discuss career planning or leadership coaching here

View all services here

Download free coaching questions here

Ways I can help further:

Click to learn more about the Elevate in 90 Days Program

Click to book a time to discuss career planning or leadership coaching here

View all services here

Download free coaching questions here

If you to build a feedback culture to strengthen relationships, enhance trust and guide professional growth these two simple questions will help.

Ways I can help further:

Click to learn more about the Elevate in 90 Days Program

Click to book a time to discuss career planning or leadership coaching here

View all services here

Download free coaching questions here

In this video I share the journey of a senior professional who embraced feedback to build awareness, understand diverse perspectives, address interpersonal issues and foster healthy working relationships. Learn how specific feedback can be a catalyst for growth, and why transparency trumps an anonymous 360 degree process. 

Ways I can help further:

Click to learn more about the Elevate in 90 Days Program

Click to book a time to discuss career planning or leadership coaching here

View all services here

Download free coaching questions here

In this video I share a process to take your brand, impact, and career to the next level. Discover a way to build a robust support network in the business that opens doors to new opportunities. Articulate your vision, demonstrate a growth mindset, and engage in powerful conversations to propel your career trajectory. This will help you make a greater difference and maximise your value in the business.

Ways I can help further:

Click to learn more about the Elevate in 90 Days Program

Click to book a time to discuss career planning or leadership coaching here

View all services here

Download free coaching questions here

I want to share with you a powerful career planning activity that I share with all my one-to-one coaching clients and in my Elevate in 90 Days Program. 

Key highlights:

•  Busy leaders can struggle to focus on their career development  
•  How to use ambitious role descriptions to help you (or your team members) with career planning
•  How to use these role descriptions to highlight capability matches and gaps
•  How to facilitate a powerful discussion with your manager or senior manager to propel your development and career forward

"I delegate better, I communicate better and I’m more strategic and less reactive. The program and the tools provide lifelong benefits." Malcolm Gibson, Elevate Participant

Ways I can help further:

Click to learn more about the Elevate in 90 Days Program

Click to book a time to discuss career planning or leadership coaching here

View all services here

Download free coaching questions here

Can you imagine the growth in your business if every team leader and manager had a mentoring conversation EVERY SINGLE MONTH? 

In this video I share how to establish an informal mentoring strategy to elevate growth, brand and build a network of engaged advocates in the business.  

Ways I can help further:

Click to learn more about the Elevate in 90 Days Program

Click to book a time to discuss career planning or leadership coaching here

View all services here

Download free coaching questions here

As a leader you’re told to ‘build the brand and visibility of your team', but you’re never shown how.

This is the simple communication process I share with my clients and in my Elevate in 90 Days program that helps team leaders and managers to build this important skill.

Ways I can help further:

Click to learn more about the Elevate in 90 Days Program

Click to book a time to discuss career planning or leadership coaching here

View all services here

Download free coaching questions here

Is growth and development stalling in your business or team because ‘feedback’ is a dirty word?

Common leadership and management programs focus on how to give feedback, but don’t focus on HOW TO BUILD A FEEDBACK CULTURE, so feedback is avoided, which leads to missed learning opportunities, unproductive behaviour left unchecked and unacknowledged positive behaviour.

"You might be interested to know that at the May breakfast we had a record attendance with over 160 guests and that you are the first speaker we have asked back due to such an overwhelming interest. The response has been phenomenal and the evaluation forms 100% positive!" Kate Wilkins, Member Relations Executive, CPA Australia

Ways I can help further:

Click to learn more about the Elevate in 90 Days Program

Click to book a time to discuss career planning or leadership coaching here

View all services here

Download free coaching questions here