Michael Bungay Stanier, author of The Coaching Habit, discusses becoming more coach-like, focusing on asking insightful questions, giving autonomy, and avoiding 'why' questions. Emphasizes the power of silence and body language in effective coaching conversations.

Michael Bungay Stanier: How to Work with (Almost) Anyone Michael Bungay Stanier is the author of eight books, including The Coaching Habit, which has sold more than a million copies and is the best-selling book on coaching this century. Most recently he wrote How to Begin, and back in 2011 he created and edited End Malaria, a book written in partnership with Seth Godin that raised more than $400k for Malaria No More. Michael is the founder Box of Crayons, a learning and development company that’s trained thousands of people around the world to be more coach-like. He has been featured in many publications including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company. His TEDx Talk on Taming Your Advice Monster has been viewed more than a million times. Michael's newest book is How to Work with (Almost) Anyone: Building the Best Possible Relationship*. Most leaders recognize the critical nature of healthy, peer relationships. Yet, few leaders lay an intentional foundation for success as those relationships start. In this episode, Michael and I discuss how to start with peers using the five questions in a Keystone Conversation. Key Points Nobody really like to say hello but everyone likes to be greeted. Make a decision to be the person that begins. Preparing thoughtful responses to the five questions in a Keystone Conversation will help you come to a dialogue in an authentic and vulnerable way. The responses themselves aren’t as critical as the process itself. By entering into a keystone conversation, you are laying the foundation for future dialogue and the best possible relationship. The five questions of a Keystone Conversation: The Amplify Question: What’s your best? The Steady Question: What are your practices and preferences? The Good Date Question: What can you learn from successful past relationships? The Bad Date Question: What can you learn from frustrating past relationships? The Repair Question: How will you fix it when things go wrong? Resources Mentioned Preorder Michael’s book at bestpossiblerelationship.com Bonus audio: Michael’s process for writing this book (12 minutes) Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Deal with Opponents and Adversaries, with Peter Block (episode 328) How to Involve Stakeholders in Decisions, with Eric Pliner (episode 586) How to Start a Big Leadership Role, with Carol Kauffman (episode 617) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

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.

Michael Bungay Stanier: The Coaching Habit Michael is the bestselling author of The Coaching Habit*. In this episode, he teaches us the key coaching questions to help others improve. Quotes I think there are as many definitions for coaching as there are people selling coaching. —Michael Bungay Stanier Slow down on the advice giving, and stay curious just a little bit longer. —Michael Bungay Stanier That’s part of the nature of a system; as soon you start changing stuff, it starts pushing back. —Michael Bungay Stanier Your organization is a system, and the very nature of a system is to love its own system. —Michael Bungay Stanier You want people to become lazy coaches … lazy because you want the other person to be doing the work. When they’re doing the work, they’re actually unlocking their own potential … you’re helping them to learn, rather than teaching them. —Michael Bungay Stanier We’re all okay with saying no to the stuff we don’t really want to do, but do we have the courage and discipline to say no to the stuff we do want to do? —Michael Bungay Stanier Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Michael Bungay Stanier: The Coaching Habit Michael Bungay Stanier is the author of eight books, including The Coaching Habit, which has sold more than a million copies and is the best-selling book on coaching this century. In 2011 he created and edited End Malaria, a book written in partnership with Seth Godin that raised more than $400k for Malaria No More. Michael is the founder Box of Crayons, a learning and development company that’s trained thousands of people around the world to be more coach-like. He has been featured in many publications including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company. His TEDx Talk on Taming Your Advice Monster has been viewed more than a million times. Key Points When things get difficult, there are three roles people may fall into: the victim, the persecutor, and/or the rescuer. To step out of a victim role, figure out what’s really going on, take a deep breath, and think, “And what else?” To avoid the persecutor role, assume positive intent and that people are trying their best. To stop rescuing as much, ask the victim, “How can I help?” or “What do you want from me?” Ask yourself what you want in the situation, and make sure you’ve communicated it to others. Then ask the others what they want. Resources Mentioned The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier Related Episodes How to Start Coaching Someone (episode 2) How to Improve Your Coaching Skills, with Tom Henschel (episode 190) These Coaching Questions Get Results, with Michael Bungay Stanier (episode 237) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Michael Bungay Stanier, an expert in working with people, shares 5 questions to work with almost anyone. Topics include the importance of keystone conversations, asking the amplify question, self-reflection and preparation, the power of conversations in building relationships, and unique perspectives and encouragement.

Michael Bungay Stanier, known for distilling complex ideas into accessible knowledge, discusses building effective working relationships, repairing and strengthening bonds, leading with humility, and the importance of conversations and relationships in healthcare.

Discover practical tools for handling workplace conflicts with insights from bestselling author Michael Bungay Stanier. Learn how to improve emotional intelligence, manage conflict, and navigate workplace dynamics effectively. Turn workplace tensions into opportunities for growth and collaboration through open communication and mutual respect.

In this episode, Michael Bungay Stanier explains keystone conversations and why this is vitally important in building the best possible relationships, both at work and in your personal life. Discover how these seemingly small conversations can lead to stronger, more collaborative, and more fulfilling connections. You’ll also learn: How any working or personal relationship can be made better Why it takes courage to initiate the invitation to work on a relationship that is important to you The 3 core elements of a relationship: safety, vitality, repairability Defining keystone conversations and why they’re so important in improving relationships How there is an important tension between safety and vitality How to look at problems in growth made instead of problem mode Why it’s important to make it safe to ask questions The importance of actively engaging in relationships so it doesn’t stagnate To learn more, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Bungay Stanier, author of 'The Coaching Habit,' discusses the art of strengthening working relationships in his new book. He emphasizes the importance of safety, vitality, and repairability in building these relationships. Keystone conversations, focusing on effective teamwork, are also highlighted. Stanier's practical approach aims to enhance team dynamics, personal interactions, and workplace productivity.