Why this matters: Promotion from senior to staff or lead is rarely about technical skills — it's about your ability to grow the people around you. That means giving feedback clearly, running 1:1s that actually help, and coaching juniors to solve problems themselves rather than just giving them the answer.

Useful language for mentoring

Giving feedback (SBI)

  • "In yesterday's standup [Situation], when you said the estimate was firm [Behaviour], the client became concerned [Impact]."
  • "I'd like to share some feedback — is now a good time?"
  • "What worked well was how you handled the escalation."
  • "What I'd suggest for next time is…"

1:1 questions

  • "What's on your mind this week?"
  • "Where do you feel stuck right now?"
  • "What would make your work easier?"
  • "What skill do you want to develop this quarter?"

Coaching instead of fixing

  • "What have you tried so far?"
  • "What do you think the next step is?"
  • "I won't tell you the answer — but let's think through it together."
  • "How could you approach this differently?"