What’s the Problem We’re Actually Solving Here?
Coaching Question of the Week
The Coaching Question
“What’s the problem we’re actually solving here?”
When to Use This Question
When a solution is being implemented without a clear diagnosis.
When a team is reacting quickly without fully understanding the root issue.
When a leader or teacher is stuck in a cycle of fixing symptoms instead of systems.
When a meeting, initiative, or plan feels bloated, disconnected, or misaligned.
The Problem This Question Aims to Solve
In schools, urgency often masquerades as clarity. We jump into action—new trackers, new training, new “non-negotiables”—without pausing to ask if we’re solving the right problem. This question acts like a verbal scalpel: it cuts through assumptions, reframes the challenge, and brings focus back to the core issue. It’s especially useful when everyone’s working hard, but no one’s sure why.
The Research Behind It
Adaptive vs. Technical Challenges (Heifetz & Linsky, 2017): When we misdiagnose adaptive problems as technical ones, we default to quick fixes instead of deep work. This question stops that reflex.
Root Cause Analysis & Systems Thinking (Senge, 2006): Effective leaders identify patterns and structures that produce recurring outcomes. If we solve the wrong problem, the system reproduces the same results.
Cognitive Load Theory (Sweller, 2011): Chasing the wrong problem adds unnecessary complexity and stress to teams already at capacity.
Example Application in Coaching
Scenario: A leadership team is implementing strict hallway procedures in response to increased behavioral issues.
Coach’s Prompt: “What’s the problem we’re actually solving here?”
Leader’s Reflection: “We said it was about tardies, but honestly—we’re trying to regain a sense of adult control. That’s what’s driving this.”
Next Steps: The coach supports the team in exploring root causes of student disengagement, rather than over-correcting symptoms. New strategies are co-created that focus on relationships, consistency, and clarity instead of surveillance.
Additional Questions to Deepen the Conversation
“Is this solving the real issue or just the visible one?”
“Who identified this as the problem and were they close enough to it?”
“What evidence do we have that this is the core issue?”
“What are we avoiding by solving this instead of that?”
Final Reflection for Coaches and Leaders
It’s easy to feel productive when we’re fixing something. But if we don’t stop to clarify the real problem, all we’re doing is moving the mess around. This question doesn’t just sharpen strategy—it reclaims purpose. In education, solving the right problem isn’t just a leadership skill. It’s an act of justice.
I love this question, and I've seen a head of school use it to great effect. I'm joining a new school as a principal next school year, and I'll try to use this question a lot to gain clarity. The art is asking it in a way that doesn't feel like a challenge, but genuinely like an inquiry. Thanks for this post!