104. Trapped in a World of Bad Advice | The tightrope between asking and telling with Edgar Schein, PhD

Are you often quick to give advice? You're not alone, but sometimes our advice may not be as helpful as we think. In this podcast episode, we explore the concepts of the advice trap and humble inquiry, which shift communication from telling to asking and encourage us to stay curious a little longer.

Guest Bio: The late Edgar Schein, PhD. was a renowned figure in the field of organizational psychology, with significant contributions to the understanding of organizational culture and leadership. As a Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management, his academic work spanned several decades, educating countless leaders and thinkers. Holding a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Harvard University, Dr. Schein was widely recognized for his groundbreaking theories on corporate culture and process consultation. His seminal works, including “Humble Inquiry”, "Organizational Culture and Leadership" and "The Corporate Culture Survival Guide", continue to be pillars of study in the field. Dr. Schein’s dedication and influence earned him prestigious accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in Workplace Learning and Performance from the American Society for Training and Development. His insights continue to shape modern approaches to organizational development and leadership.

The Advice Trap Link

Humble Inquiry Link

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For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast website

We Discuss:

• We love to solve problems, and that can be a problem
• The Advice Trap
• Why even good advice can be bad
• The paradoxical pitfall of how we see our value
• The demotivator
• Where this comes up in coaching
• You are in the coffee shop with your best friend
• Hearing yourself think
• Humble inquiry
• It’s not just to fill the awkward silence
• Asking questions is not straightforward 
• Critical skills for implementing humble inquiry
• Take-home challenge: The next time you engage in a conversation, particularly in a setting where you’re accustomed to ‘telling’, try implementing the principles of Humble Inquiry and notice if there is an advice trap. See how just noticing, not even doing, influences the dynamics of the conversation and the outcomes that unfold.