© 2013, Coert Visser

www.progressfocusedapproach.com

A good way to enable progress is to pose some well

thought out questions. It helps when these questions fit

well with each other and build on each other. A few years

ago, I developed a sequence of 5 progress-

focused questions. I have used it often and I have found it

to be powerful and flexible set of questions which can be

useful in many change processes. Here it is:

1. The continuation question

2. The future projection question

3. The optimism question

4. The small steps forward question

5. The personal contribution question

1. The continuation question

“While change is important and useful, it

is wise to not change more than

necessary.

As far as you are concerned, which things

(activities and processes) within the

team are going well enough and

therefore do not have to be changed?”

© 2013, Coert Visser

www.progressfocusedapproach.com

2. The future projection question

“Imagine, we are now 3 months further

and the team has made progress.

How will you notice that there is

progress? What is different? What is

better?

In what sense is it an improvement? How

will others (customers, colleagues,

management, etc.) notice?”

© 2013, Coert Visser

www.progressfocusedapproach.com

3. The optimism question

“Which signals indicate that the team

will indeed be able to make progress

within the next 3 months?

Which positive indications do you

see?”

© 2013, Coert Visser

www.progressfocusedapproach.com

4. The small steps forward question

“Which first small steps could be taken

to start making progress?”

© 2013, Coert Visser

www.progressfocusedapproach.com

5. The personal contribution question

“How would you personally like to

contribute to the progress of the team?”

© 2013, Coert Visser

www.progressfocusedapproach.com

Music: Coert Visser & Dirk-Jan Smid© 2013, Coert Visser

www.progressfocusedapproach.com