What would it take to fix this for real—not just manage the symptoms?
Coaching question of the week
The Coaching Question
“What would it take to fix this for real—not just manage the symptoms?”
When to Use This Question
When a teacher or leader is stuck in surface-level solutions that provide short-term relief but don’t address root causes.
When a team is using workarounds, band-aid fixes, or reactionary measures.
When someone is avoiding a deeper mindset shift because it's uncomfortable or disruptive.
When coaching through persistent challenges that keep resurfacing despite multiple attempts to “fix” them.
The Problem This Question Aims to Solve
Schools are full of quick fixes: new trackers, tweaks to routines, policy reminders. But often, these solutions treat symptoms—not causes. This question challenges educators and leaders to look deeper. It invites them to pause and ask: Are we solving the real problem, or just masking it? It opens the door to sustainable, meaningful change even when it’s harder to face.
The Research Behind It
Adaptive vs. Technical Change (Heifetz, 2009) – Technical fixes solve surface-level problems. Adaptive work addresses the underlying beliefs, behaviors, and systems. This question pushes toward the latter.
Disruptive Mindset Coaching (COMING MARCH 2026) – Mindsets often drive persistent challenges. Until we identify, disrupt, and replace the belief behind the behavior, we’re stuck in cycles of patchwork.
Systems Thinking (Senge, 1990) – Problems repeat when the structure that produces them remains unchanged. Getting to root causes requires seeing beyond symptoms.
Example Application in Coaching:
Scenario: A teacher keeps rearranging desks and changing seating charts to address off-task behavior but sees no long-term improvement.
Coach’s Response: “What would it take to fix this for real—not just manage the symptoms?”
Teacher’s Reflection: “Honestly, I think I need to be more consistent with expectations at the start of class. The layout won’t matter if students don’t know what they’re supposed to be doing.”
Next Steps: The coach could support the teacher in designing a clear, practiced start-of-class routine and revisiting mindset beliefs like “If I’m too firm, I’ll lose connection.”
Additional Questions to Deepen the Conversation
“What’s the root cause hiding underneath this challenge?”
“What belief or behavior is keeping this problem alive?”
“What would a long-term solution require of you—or your team?”
“What have you been trying to control that actually needs to be rethought?”
Final Reflection for Coaches and Leaders
This question is a scalpel. It cuts past the noise of surface fixes and asks us to be brave enough to deal with what’s actually broken. It doesn’t demand immediate action—but it refuses to let us pretend everything’s fine. Use it when a cycle keeps repeating, when the solution feels too tidy, or when the discomfort has been dulled by busyness. Real change doesn’t start with a strategy. It starts with a question like this one.
