The Coaching Habit
Michael Bungay Stanier
The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever is a book by Michael Bungay Stanier that provides a practical guide to becoming a better coach. The book focuses on seven essential coaching questions that can help leaders and managers become more effective coaches. The book also provides advice on how to create a coaching culture in the workplace, how to build trust with employees, and how to create an environment of continuous learning and development. The book is designed to help leaders and managers become more effective coaches and to help them create a culture of coaching in their organizations.
- Managers: The Coaching Habit provides managers with the tools to help their team members develop and grow, while also improving their own leadership skills.
- Leaders: The Coaching Habit provides leaders with the skills to create a culture of trust and collaboration, while also helping them to become more effective in their roles.
- Individuals: The Coaching Habit provides individuals with the tools to become more self-aware and to develop their own personal growth.
1. Ask powerful questions
Asking powerful questions is an essential skill for any coach, leader, or mentor. It helps to create a safe space for the person being coached to explore their own thoughts and feelings, and to come up with their own solutions. Powerful questions can also help to uncover underlying issues, and to challenge assumptions and beliefs. Asking powerful questions can help to create a more meaningful and productive coaching relationship.
2. Listen more and talk less
The takeaway from The Coaching Habit is that listening more and talking less is an important part of effective coaching. Listening allows coaches to better understand their clients and their needs, and to provide more meaningful advice and support. It also helps to build trust and create a more open and collaborative relationship.
3. Focus on the person, not the problem
The Coaching Habit encourages coaches to focus on the person, rather than the problem, in order to help them develop their own solutions and build their self-confidence. By asking open-ended questions and listening actively, coaches can help their clients uncover their own answers and develop their own skills.
4. Make it easy for people to take action
The Coaching Habit encourages people to make it easy for others to take action by providing them with the necessary resources and support to do so. This includes providing clear instructions, setting achievable goals, and offering feedback and guidance. By doing so, people can become more empowered and motivated to take action and achieve their goals.
5. Follow up and follow through
Following up and following through are essential components of effective coaching. It is important to check in with the person being coached to ensure that they are making progress and to provide support and guidance when needed. Following through on commitments made during coaching sessions is also important in order to build trust and ensure that the desired outcomes are achieved.