

E154: Shifting Power with Curiousity: Michael Bungay Stanier on Decentering Ourselves and Elevating Others
12 snips Mar 10, 2021
In this engaging discussion, Michael Bungay Stanier, author and founder of Box of Crayons, delves into the transformative power of curiosity in leadership. He emphasizes the need to decenter ourselves to empower others, sharing insights from his personal journey towards feminism and navigating privilege. Michael introduces a unique tree model for decision-making and offers practical tactics for leaders to step back and foster collective ownership. With a focus on small, feedback-driven steps, he explores the complexities of embracing one's power.
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Tame The Advice Monster In DEI Work
- Jennifer links Michael's 'advice monster' idea to DEI: giving unsolicited advice across difference often harms rather than helps.
- Leaders should hold space, ask curious questions, and platform others instead of fixing problems themselves.
University Moment That Sparked Feminism
- Michael recounts a university tutorial where he and another male student dominated conversations and realized it felt like mansplaining.
- That moment catalyzed his long-standing commitment to feminism and decentering his voice.
Curiosity Redistributes Power
- Michael argues curiosity shifts power by inviting others to own problems rather than being told solutions.
- Coaching becomes a political act because it redistributes authority toward the person with the issue.