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Coaching Conversation Starters for HR Professionals & People LeadersÂ
I’ve put together some powerful, coaching-based questions to help you better navigate sensitive conversations in the workplace and unlock your team’s full potential.
Perfect for those conversations around underperformance, team conflict, low morale, career development or when leading through change.
YES! I WANT THE QUESTIONS!Use these questions in your next 1:1 or team catch up...
Someone’s returning after a tough absence - these questions will help set a supportive tone whilst clarify expectations.
Morale feels low - they’ll help you uncover what’s really going on.
Your 1:1s feel one-sided - use these questions to shift the dynamic and encourage ownership.
A high-potential team member isn’t stepping up - they’ll help to reveal what’s holding them back.
You need to deliver difficult feedback - you’ve now got prompts to help make it constructive and motivating.
Your team is facing change or uncertainty - the questions help people process and adapt.
Why this matters...
As an HR professional, people manager or leader, you're the one others turn to and lean on.
In moments of uncertainty, conflict, change, stress or growth… people look to you.
But you’re not always given the tools to handle these moments. Right?Â
These questions give you a simple, powerful way to handle the moments that matter most - without needing all the answers!
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Remember, the conversations you’re having don’t just solve short-term problems.
They shape culture. They build trust. They influence how safe people feel, how they grow, and how long they stay.
When your conversations change, so does your impact.
GIVE ME THE QUESTIONS!This is for you if:
You want to have more meaningful, productive conversations with your team.
You tend to avoid certain conversations because you’re unsure how to approach them.
You often feel stuck between being supportive and needing to drive results - and wish you had better tools to bridge that gap.
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You find yourself doing all the talking in 1:1s or check-ins and you want colleagues to open up and engage more.
What's inside?
Inside you’ll find powerful questions you can use for common workplace scenarios like:
- Performance concerns
- Low morale
- Conflict resolution
- Difficult feedback
- Career development
- Inclusion
And more!
GIVE ME THE QUESTIONS!Why listen to me?
Hi, I’m Sarah Makinde.
With over 20 years’ experience in senior HR roles - and as a Chartered Psychologist - I’ve worked alongside HR Directors and People Managers who are deeply committed to building high-performing, thriving teams.
I know how much pressure comes with being the go-to person in times of conflict, change, or challenge.
And I know how frustrating it can be when you want to support others better - but you’re not always given the tools to do it well.
I’ve spent two decades helping leaders, managers, and HR professionals have better conversations - the kind that build trust, unlock performance, and genuinely move things forward.
And I’ve seen it again and again: When you start using coaching skills, everything shifts.Â
The people you support feel more empowered. You become more confident in your role. And your influence as a leader grows.
That’s exactly why I created this resource - to give you a practical toolkit you can start using straight away.
Because these kinds of conversations aren’t just nice to have. They’re essential.
