The Coaching Habit "Say Less, Ask More and Change the Way You Lead Forever" by Michael Bungay Stanier is a book that focuses on coaching as a leadership and management tool. It provides practical advice for becoming a more effective coach in the workplace. Here are the key ideas from the book:
The Power of Coaching
The book highlights the importance of coaching as a leadership skill. Effective coaching can lead to improved performance, better relationships, and greater personal and professional development.
The Seven Essential Questions
Stanier introduces seven key questions that can help coaches have more impactful and efficient coaching conversations. These questions are designed to be simple and effective tools for guiding discussions:
1. "The Kickstart Question"
This question is used to start a coaching conversation and set the focus. It typically begins with "What's on your mind?"
2. "The AWE Question" (And What Else?)
This question encourages deeper exploration and encourages the coachee to consider additional perspectives or ideas.
3. "The Focus Question"
This question helps clarify the real issue or challenge at hand. It asks, "What's the real challenge here for you?"
4. "The Foundation Question"
This question explores the coachee's values and what truly matters to them. It begins with "What do you want?"
5. "The Lazy Question"
The purpose of this question is to encourage the coachee to think about what they don't need to do. It asks, "What's the thing you're not saying?"
6. "The Strategic Question"
This question helps the coachee consider the bigger picture and long-term goals. It asks, "If you're saying yes to this, what are you saying no to?"
7. "The Learning Question"
This question focuses on capturing insights and learning from the coaching conversation. It asks, "What was most useful for you?"
1. "The Kickstart Question"
This question is used to start a coaching conversation and set the focus. It typically begins with "What's on your mind?"
2. "The AWE Question" (And What Else?)
This question encourages deeper exploration and encourages the coachee to consider additional perspectives or ideas.
3. "The Focus Question"
This question helps clarify the real issue or challenge at hand. It asks, "What's the real challenge here for you?"
4. "The Foundation Question"
This question explores the coachee's values and what truly matters to them. It begins with "What do you want?"
5. "The Lazy Question"
The purpose of this question is to encourage the coachee to think about what they don't need to do. It asks, "What's the thing you're not saying?"
6. "The Strategic Question"
This question helps the coachee consider the bigger picture and long-term goals. It asks, "If you're saying yes to this, what are you saying no to?"
7. "The Learning Question"
This question focuses on capturing insights and learning from the coaching conversation. It asks, "What was most useful for you?"
Coaching Habits
Stanier emphasizes the importance of developing coaching habits by using these questions consistently. He encourages leaders and managers to make coaching a regular part of their interactions with team members.
Listening Skills
Effective coaching requires active listening. The book underscores the value of listening attentively to what the coachee is saying and being fully present in the conversation.
Resisting the Urge to Give Advice
Stanier suggests that coaches should avoid the temptation to provide immediate solutions or advice. Instead, they should help coachees find their own answers and take ownership of their challenges.
Coaching as a Leadership Style
"The Coaching Habit" promotes coaching as a leadership style that fosters autonomy, accountability, and growth among team members.
Behavioral Change
The book acknowledges that creating behavioral change is a gradual process. Coaches should be patient and persistent in their efforts to help coachees make lasting improvements.
Feedback and Accountability
Effective coaching involves providing feedback and holding coachees accountable for their actions and commitments. It's essential to ensure that coaching leads to concrete actions and results.
"The Coaching Habit" provides a practical framework for incorporating coaching into everyday leadership and management. By adopting the seven essential questions and developing coaching habits, leaders can have more meaningful and impactful conversations with their teams, ultimately leading to improved performance and growth.
"The Coaching Habit" provides a practical framework for incorporating coaching into everyday leadership and management. By adopting the seven essential questions and developing coaching habits, leaders can have more meaningful and impactful conversations with their teams, ultimately leading to improved performance and growth.
