Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“What's something you believe about work or effort that actually guides how you show up, even when no one's checking?”
What to listen for
If they describe a real internal standard, showing up on time, doing it right even unwatched, they've built a sense of integrity that's theirs, not just rule-following for approval.
If they admit they mostly only try hard when someone's watching, that's honest and common, it's a chance to understand what actually motivates them rather than judging the answer.
A vague "I just try my best" is a fine answer for tonight, it doesn't need unpacking further unless they want to keep going.
What this tells you
What drives their effort when no one's watching reveals whether their work ethic currently comes from within or from outside pressure.