The Coaching Habit

Say Less, Ask More Change the Way You Lead Forever

Michael Bungay Stanier | 4.30 | 12,830 ratings and reviews

Recommended by Dan Rockwell, Susan Mazza, Scott Perry, and 6 others. See all reviews

Ranked #1 in Coaching, Ranked #11 in Sales Management — see more rankings.

Coaching is an essential skill for leaders. But for most busy, overworked managers, coaching employees is done badly, or not at all. They’re just too busy, and it’s too hard to change.

But what if managers could coach their people in 10 minutes or less?

In Michael Bungay Stanier’s The Coaching Habit, coaching becomes a regular, informal part of your day so managers and their teams can work less hard and have more impact.

Coaching is an art and it’s far easier said than done. It takes courage to ask a question rather than offer up advice, provide an answer, or unleash a solution. Giving another person the opportunity to find their own way, make their own mistakes, and create their own wisdom is both brave and vulnerable. It can also mean unlearning our “fix it” habits. In this practical and inspiring book, Michael shares seven transformative questions that can make a difference in how we lead and support. And, he guides us through the tricky part - how to take this new information and turn it into habits and a daily practice.

––Brené Brown, author of Rising Strong and Daring Greatly

Drawing on years of experience training more than 10,000 busy managers from around the globe in practical, everyday coaching skills, Bungay Stanier reveals how to unlock your peoples’ potential. He unpacks seven essential coaching questions to demonstrate how—by saying less and asking more—you can develop coaching methods that produce great results.
•   Get straight to the point in any conversation with The Kickstart Question
•   Stay on track during any interaction with The AWE Question
•   Save hours of time for yourself with The Lazy Question, and hours of time for others with The Strategic Question
•   Get to the heart of any interpersonal or external challenge with The Focus Question and The Foundation Question
•   Finally, ensure others find your coaching as beneficial as you do with The Learning Question

A fresh, innovative take on the traditional how-to manual, the book combines insider information with research based in neuroscience and behavioural economics, together with interactive training tools to turn practical advice into practiced habits. Dynamic question-and-answer sections help identify old habits and kick-start new behaviour, making sure you get the most out of all seven chapters. Witty and conversational, The Coaching Habit takes your work—and your workplace—from good to great. less

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Reviews and Recommendations

We've comprehensively compiled reviews of The Coaching Habit from the world's leading experts.

Dan Rockwell Recommends this book

Susan Mazza Recommends this book

Scott Perry Michael Bungay-Stanier’s The Coaching Habit was the first book I read when I received the altMBA6 “care package.” It delivers a system for developing worthwhile habits and engagements that I found compelling and effective. I use the seven question system Michael teaches in my work as a guitar teacher, life coach, and musical collaborator. (Source)

Brene Brown Coaching is an art and it's far easier said than done. It takes courage to ask a question rather than offer up advice, provide and answer, or unleash a solution. giving another person the opportunity to find their own way, make their own mistakes, and create their own wisdom is both brave and vulnerable. In this practical and inspiring book, Michael shares seven transformative questions that can make a difference in how we lead and support. And he guides us through the tricky part - how to take this new information and turn it into habits and a daily practice. (Source)

Armina Sirbu The Coaching Habit by M. Stanier - for people who need to coach their teams. (Source)

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