The Coaching Habit
by Michael Bungay Stanier · 2016
Bungay Stanier's seven questions that make you a better leader in minutes.
Worth reading? The Coaching Habit is the most practical manager book: seven simple questions (starting with 'What's on your mind?') that build a coaching habit. Short and immediately usable. Skip it if you already coach by asking.
| Author | Michael Bungay Stanier |
|---|---|
| Published | 2016 |
| Category | Self-Improvement & Psychology |
| Favorite quote | “The two words that make a difference: 'And what else?'” |
The Verdict
The Coaching Habit is the most practical manager book: seven simple questions (starting with ‘What’s on your mind?’) that build a coaching habit. Short and immediately usable. Skip it if you already coach by asking.
managers who default to advice and want to develop people instead
you already ask more than you tell
Book Summary
Bungay Stanier's seven questions that make you a better leader in minutes. It earns its place by giving you a clear lens you can apply, not just inspiration. Ask 'What's on your mind?' to open real conversations. The AWE question: 'And what else?' uncovers more. The practical move is to read it once, then act on the one idea that maps to your current bottleneck, rereading the whole thing rarely adds more than executing the part you skipped.
Top 10 Lessons from The Coaching Habit
- Ask 'What's on your mind?' to open real conversations.
- The AWE question: 'And what else?' uncovers more.
- Don't give advice; ask better questions.
- Name the real problem before solving.
- Build a habit of coaching in short daily moments.
- Ask 'What do you want?' to surface the real goal, not the surface ask.
- Ask 'How can I help?' instead of assuming what someone needs.
- Ask the strategic question: 'What will you say no to?'
- Ask the learning question: 'What was most useful for you?' to close the loop.
- Resist the urge to be the hero who solves everyone's problem.
Top 5 Quotes from The Coaching Habit
"The two words that make a difference: 'And what else?'"
Michael Bungay Stanier, The Coaching Habit
"Don't fix the problem; ask about it."
Michael Bungay Stanier, The Coaching Habit
"Being busy is a form of laziness -- lazy thinking and indiscriminate action."
Michael Bungay Stanier, The Coaching Habit
"We live in the world our questions create."
Michael Bungay Stanier, The Coaching Habit
"Your good intentions often end up contributing to a relentless cycle of exhaustion, frustration and, ironically, reduced impact."
Michael Bungay Stanier, The Coaching Habit
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Coaching Habit worth reading?
Yes, if the description fits you, managers who default to advice and want to develop people instead. Skip it if you already ask more than you tell.
What is the main idea of The Coaching Habit?
The Coaching Habit is the most practical manager book: seven simple questions (starting with 'What's on your mind?') that build a coaching habit.
Who should read The Coaching Habit?
Managers who default to advice and want to develop people instead. Skip it if you already ask more than you tell.
What will you get out of The Coaching Habit?
A clearer, opinionated take you can act on, plus the sharpest lessons pulled into a short list so you don't have to read the whole book to decide.
Ready to read it?
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