The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier Summary
Overview of The Coaching Habit
Transform your leadership with "The Coaching Habit," the million-copy bestseller that's revolutionized management across 20 languages. Endorsed by Brene Brown as a "classic," discover seven questions that will help you say less, achieve more, and unlock your team's full potential.
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Key takeaways
The Seven Questions That Will Transform Your Leadership
Imagine a world where you leave work on time, feeling energized rather than drained. Where your team solves problems independently, and you focus on work that truly matters. This isn't fantasy - it's what happens when you break free from the exhausting cycle of giving advice and instead master the art of asking powerful questions. "The Coaching Habit" introduces seven deceptively simple questions that will revolutionize how you lead. These questions aren't just conversation starters - they're the key to working less hard while having more impact. We've all been trained to be advice-giving machines. When someone brings us a problem, we immediately start formulating solutions - often before they've even finished explaining the situation. This "Advice Monster" creates three vicious cycles: overdependence (team members constantly seeking your input), overwhelm (you working longer hours to keep up with everyone's problems), and disconnection (losing focus on strategic work that should be your priority). The irony? Research shows coaching is the most effective leadership style, yet remains the least used. Why? Because giving less advice and asking more questions feels counterintuitive when you've spent years being rewarded for having answers. Your value as a leader isn't measured by how many problems you solve - it's measured by how many problems you help others solve themselves.
Starting Strong: The Kickstart and AWE Questions
Focusing on What Matters: The Focus and Foundation Questions
Supporting Without Rescuing: The Lazy Question
Making Strategic Choices: The Strategic Question
Cementing Learning: The Learning Question
From Questions to Habits: Creating Lasting Change
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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