What Can I Talk to a Coach About?

Maybe you’ve thought about booking a coaching session but stopped short, wondering whether your issue is “big enough,” or whether you’d even know what to say once you got there.

Here’s a secret coaches will tell you: many of the most valuable sessions start with something like “I’m not totally sure what I want to talk about, but something feels off.” A coach’s job is to help you figure it out together. You don’t need to arrive with the answer, or even the perfect question.

If you’re looking for a place to start, borrow any of the prompts below. Say them exactly as written, or use them as a jumping-off point.

Working with your manager

Relationships and tough conversations

• “There’s a conversation I’ve been avoiding for weeks.”
• “A coworker and I had a tense moment, and things have been awkward since.”
• “I work with someone I just don’t click with.”
• “Someone keeps talking over me in meetings.”
• “I want to feel more connected to my team.”

Feedback and performance

• “I got feedback that stung, and I can’t stop thinking about it.”
• “My performance review is coming up, and I want to prepare.”
• “I need to write my self-review and don’t know how to talk about my work.”
• “I want to get better at receiving feedback without getting defensive.”
• “I got a rating I didn’t expect, and I’m not sure what to do next.”

Career growth

• “I’m not sure what I want next in my career.”
• “I want to grow, but a promotion isn’t on the table right now.”
• “I’m trying to decide whether to pursue a management path.”
• “I want to position myself for a promotion.”
• “I’d like to explore a different kind of role within my company.”

Confidence and self-doubt

• “I just started a new role and feel like I’m in over my head.”
• “I have a big presentation coming up and I’m nervous.”
• “I struggle to speak up in meetings.”
• “I feel awkward talking about my accomplishments.”
• “I keep second-guessing my decisions.”

Stress, workload, and wellbeing

• “My workload feels unmanageable.”
• “I think I might be heading toward burnout.”
• “I have trouble setting boundaries at work.”
• “Everything feels urgent, and I don’t know how to prioritize.”
• “I’m juggling work and caregiving, and I’m stretched thin.”

Change and uncertainty

• “My company is going through a reorg, and I feel unsettled.”
• “AI is changing my job, and I’m worried about what that means for me.”
• “My team’s priorities keep shifting, and it’s hard to keep up.”
• “I’m struggling to adjust to a new way of working.”
• “I’m returning from leave and want to ease back in.”

Motivation and fulfillment

• “I feel stuck in my role.”
• “I’ve lost some of my motivation, and I don’t know why.”
• “I want my work to feel more meaningful.”
• “I’d like to use my strengths more often.”
• “Work feels like a checklist lately.”

Leading others

• “I’m a new manager and figuring out how to lead.”
• “I need to give difficult feedback to someone on my team.”
• “My team seems burned out, and I want to support them.”
• “I’m leading my team through a big change.”
• “I want to delegate more, but it’s hard to let go.”

Skills you want to build

• “I want to become a better communicator.”
• “I’d like to build my executive presence.”
• “I want to get better at managing my time.”
• “I want to learn how to influence without authority.”
• “I’d like to practice a hard conversation before I have it.”

Still not sure?

That’s completely fine. Try starting your session with “Here’s what’s on my mind lately,” and see where it goes. Or think about the moment in your work week you most wish had gone differently. That’s often a great place to begin.

One note: coaching focuses on your work life and your growth. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis or need clinical support, please reach out to a healthcare provider or your company’s Employee Assistance Program.

Found a prompt that sounds like you? Bring it to a Bravely coach, and you’ll work through it together. Book a session here.