The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier book cover

The Coaching Habit

by Michael Bungay Stanier · 2016

Bungay Stanier's seven questions that make you a better leader in minutes.

Worth reading? The Coaching Habit is the most practical manager book: seven simple questions (starting with 'What's on your mind?') that build a coaching habit. Short and immediately usable. Skip it if you already coach by asking.

AuthorMichael Bungay Stanier
Published2016
CategorySelf-Improvement & Psychology

ASIN: B01BUIBBZI

The Verdict

The Coaching Habit is the most practical manager book: seven simple questions (starting with ‘What’s on your mind?’) that build a coaching habit. Short and immediately usable. Skip it if you already coach by asking.

Read it if

managers who default to advice and want to develop people instead

The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier: book review and summary

Book Summary

Bungay Stanier's seven questions that make you a better leader in minutes. It earns its place by giving you a clear lens you can apply, not just inspiration. Ask 'What's on your mind?' to open real conversations. The AWE question: 'And what else?' uncovers more. The practical move is to read it once, then act on the one idea that maps to your current bottleneck, rereading the whole thing rarely adds more than executing the part you skipped.

Top 5 Lessons from The Coaching Habit

  1. Ask 'What's on your mind?' to open real conversations.
  2. The AWE question: 'And what else?' uncovers more.
  3. Don't give advice; ask better questions.
  4. Name the real problem before solving.
  5. Build a habit of coaching in short daily moments.

Top 2 Quotes from The Coaching Habit

"The two words that make a difference: 'And what else?'"

Michael Bungay Stanier, The Coaching Habit

"Don't fix the problem; ask about it."

Michael Bungay Stanier, The Coaching Habit

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Coaching Habit worth reading?

Yes, if the description fits you, managers who default to advice and want to develop people instead. Skip it if you already ask more than you tell.

What is the main idea of The Coaching Habit?

The Coaching Habit is the most practical manager book: seven simple questions (starting with 'What's on your mind?') that build a coaching habit.

Who should read The Coaching Habit?

Managers who default to advice and want to develop people instead. Skip it if you already ask more than you tell.

What will you get out of The Coaching Habit?

A clearer, opinionated take you can act on, plus the sharpest lessons pulled into a short list so you don't have to read the whole book to decide.