The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever
Work less hard, ask smarter questions, and multiply your impact
About This Book
Turn everyday conversations into catalysts for growth. By replacing knee‑jerk advice with a handful of sharp, simple questions, you’ll help people think for themselves, reduce overdependence, and focus on the work that actually moves the needle. You’ll learn how to start any chat fast and deep, uncover the real problem, set adult‑to‑adult expectations, avoid rescuing, make strategic trade‑offs, and lock in learning—all in ten minutes or less. Imagine one‑to‑ones that don’t drift, meetings that end with clarity, and teammates who leave energized because they owned the solution. Build this skill once and watch it upgrade every relationship you lead.About the Author
Michael Bungay Stanier is a globally respected leadership educator known for making complex behavior change simple and practical. He founded Box of Crayons, a training company that has helped thousands of busy managers coach in ten minutes or less. Michael is recognized for blending behavioral science, humor, and hard‑won experience into tools people actually use. He’s coached executives, taught across industries, and popularized accessible frameworks that spread because they work. His mission is straightforward: help people stay curious a little longer and rush to advice a little more slowly so they can have more impact with less effort.
Biggest Takeaway
- Free up hours each week by shifting from fixing to coaching. - Increase team autonomy, confidence, and problem‑solving speed. - Focus attention on the real challenge instead of the loudest one. - Say Yes more strategically by naming the necessary No’s. - Lower overwhelm by preventing bottlenecks and scope creep. - Strengthen trust through adult‑to‑adult conversations. - Embed learning so each interaction compounds future performance. - Build durable micro‑habits that make coaching your default.
Key Insights from This Book
Explore the most important ideas and learn how to apply them in your life.
Start stronger by asking what’s on your mind and skip the small talk
Stop rushing to advice by asking and what else three times
Uncover the real problem by asking what’s the real challenge here for you
Ask what do you want to shift into adult‑to‑adult conversations
Stop rescuing by asking how can I help and choose your response
Make your Yes real by naming the No that protects it
Finish strong by asking what was most useful and lock in learning
Turn coaching into a habit with tiny triggers and sixty‑second moves
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