by Emily Tevault, MBA, CPC, ACC, BSC Coach & Trainer

The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever
Michael Bungay Stanier
Box of Crayons Press  | 2016 | 251 pp. | ISBN 0978440749

Welcome to our leadership resources book review to facilitate your continued growth and move your ideas to action. This month we add The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier to your professional reading list and provide reflection from Emily Tevault, MBA, CPC, ACC.

Have you ever sat down with your direct-report and not had the words to start an impactful conversation? The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever provides you with seven coaching questions that will quickly get to the root of the issue and unlock your staff member’s potential. Author Michael Bungay Stanier provides tools that you can use with your staff, clients, vendors, suppliers, and colleagues to make the seven coaching questions a habit.

My favorite question of the seven provided is “What is the real challenge here for you?” There is so much packed into that one, short question. First, it acknowledges that the first few things that someone tells you are on their mind are rarely the actual concern. Second, the question focuses your staff member on themselves and nobody else by adding “for you” at the end of the sentence. Finally, it slows you down and keeps you from rushing to give advice or solve what you think is the problem.

As a coach, this book resonated with me because it acknowledged that coaching is an essential leadership style that is one of the most impactful yet the least used. As I read this book, I knew this would be a valuable book for all my clients who have direct-reports to read and implement. It is a quick read, which is essential for a busy manager. I read it in two days, and I am not a fast reader. The author also organically integrated additional resources into the book, such as podcasts, books, and videos. You will feel as though you received multiple books in one due to the extensive resources provided throughout the book.

Take your leadership to the next level and implement The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever.

The book is recommended for…

• Supervisors and managers who are ready to connect with their staff in a more impactful way.

Cite: Tevault, E. (2021). BSC Book Review: The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever.  Rockville, MD: BSCorbett Consulting, LLC. Retrieved from https://bscorbettconsulting.com/portfolio/the-coaching-habit