#156: Michael Bungay Stanier, Founder of Box of Crayons — Be curious
Oct 12, 2023
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Michael Bungay Stanier, founder of Box of Crayons and bestselling author, talks about the power of curiosity in leadership. He shares practical tips on coaching, taming the 'Advice Monsters,' using silence, and improving communication skills. The podcast also explores challenges of founder transitions, the journey of publishing a best-selling book, and the impact of giving up power in leadership.
Curiosity is a leadership superpower that helps leaders find better ideas, identify the right problems, and get more from their team.
Investing in relationships is crucial for creating safe and vital work environments where people can grow and thrive.
By staying curious longer and refraining from rushing to advice-giving, leaders can empower their team and help them find better solutions.
Deep dives
The Power of Curiosity in Leadership
Curiosity is a leadership superpower that helps leaders find better ideas, identify the right problems, and get more from their team. It is important for leaders to move away from giving advice and instead embrace curiosity to draw out their team's potential.
Taking the Lead in Investing in Relationships
Leaders should take the lead in investing in relationships. Building strong relationships is crucial for creating safe and vital work environments where people can grow and thrive.
Taming the Advice Monster
Leaders should be aware of their advice monster, the urge to provide advice immediately. By staying curious longer and refraining from rushing to advice giving, leaders can empower their team and help them find better solutions.
The Importance of Building Relationships Before the Work
Leaders should prioritize having a conversation about how they work together with their team before diving into the actual tasks. By building a foundation of trust and understanding, leaders can create a resilient and effective working relationship.
Turning Abstract Ideas into Concrete Concepts
Leaders should strive to make abstract ideas concrete and relatable. By finding unique twists or metaphors, leaders can make complex concepts more accessible and engaging for their team.
Someone on your team comes to you with a question about how to approach a problem theyr’e facing.
What do you do?
If you’re like most leaders, your first instinct is to dispense some advice. And that’s understandable! You’re sitting in that leadership role precisely because you’ve got all kinds of great wisdom and insight to share.
But according to today’s guest, that approach can backfire.
Michael Bungay Stanier is a bestselling author and the founder of a company called Box of Crayons that equips leaders to become better coaches.
He’s on a mission to help leaders move away from giving advice and instead leverage the power of curiosity to draw out their team.
For Michael, curiosity is a leadership superpower that helps you find better ideas, pinpoint the right problems, and get more from your teammates.
And this conversation is jam-packed with practical ways to help you do ALL that.
You’ll also learn:
One three-word question that will change the way you coach your team
The three different kinds of “Advice Monsters” (and how to tame yours!)
How to use the power of silence
The one thing you need to do in a difficult working relationship
A practical framework to navigate a big company leadership transition
One specific question that will help you dig deeper in any relationship
Three principles to improve your communication skills
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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