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If you supervise other people, you’ve probably also been a coach. Yes, you need to hold folks accountable. And you need to have separate conversations that are about growth and learning as a partner in their development.

I heartily recommend the book, The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier. This is a practical approach to having more and better coaching conversations.

Stanier says that if his book were a Haiku, it would be:

Tell less and ask more.

Your advice is not as good.

As you think it is.

Another favorite quote: “Even though we don’t really know what the issue is, we’re quite sure we’ve got the answer they need.” Although coaching often isn’t advice-free, Stanier counsels to ask more questions. When you’re not sure what to ask next, or when tempted to convey your own wise counsel, ask, what else? This encourages the other person to think deeply, to go beyond the first, most obvious thought or answer.

Get the book. It’s a quick, practical guide that will make a real difference in your coaching efforts.

What’s your favorite coaching question? Comment below or message us.

Photo from Hossein Ezzatkhah on Unsplash.