The Coaching Habit

Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

by Michael Bungay Stanier

4.5(15,593 ratings)

10 min read

Brief overview

This book offers a straightforward approach to becoming a more impactful leader through simple, consistent coaching habits. It reveals how asking powerful questions helps avoid unproductive meetings, prevents burnout, and deepens engagement while creating space for meaningful growth opportunities.

Introduction

Most of us live in a busy work environment where everyone expects solutions, not questions. This irony often leads managers to shoulder all responsibilities and leave employees underdeveloped. That’s why a coaching habit matters—it cultivates a people-centered approach in which you prioritize inquiry over directives.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by trivial matters or found yourself micromanaging, a shift in perspective will help you break that cycle. By exploring seven core questions, you guide team members to discover their own answers and ultimately foster autonomy, motivation, and a sense of achievement.

Across these pages, you’ll learn techniques to be curious instead of controlling, to slow down instead of rushing in, and to empower rather than just dictate tasks. This lays a foundation for higher performance and richer personal growth.

Curiosity is your secret weapon: it prevents quick fixes and opens possibilities.

Building a Coaching Habit

At its core, a coaching habit is about consistency. You’re not setting aside huge blocks of time but weaving in short, useful conversations daily. Instead of jumping in with a fix, you pause and ask a question—then listen carefully.

Habits are built from triggers, small actions, and repetition. For example, if a teammate comes to you with a question, instead of supplying an instant answer, train yourself to ask one of the seven key queries you’ll discover here. Over time, this becomes second nature and reshapes your workplace dynamic.

The payoff for building this habit is multifaceted. When people feel heard and empowered, they learn faster, solve problems more creatively, and free you from being the office bottleneck. This approach reduces stress, helps clarify priorities, and ensures you save your brainpower for challenges that truly require it.

Focused questioning fuels independence and trust—both key to high-impact leadership.

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What is The Coaching Habit about?

The Coaching Habit offers a concise, practical approach for leaders seeking real change in how they guide and support their teams. Michael Bungay Stanier shows how simple, consistent habits and the right set of questions can prevent endless firefighting, reduce burnout, and create more meaningful growth opportunities. By saying less and listening more, readers discover new ways to engage with colleagues and focus on the challenges that matter most.

Through clear examples, this book illustrates how to switch from quick fixes to a culture of learning and self-sufficiency. It presents specific questions for everyday coaching moments, making it accessible no matter how busy you are. These habits build a sustainable framework, helping leaders blend productivity with empathy and unlock the full potential of their teams.

Review of The Coaching Habit

This book’s main strength lies in its practical focus. Instead of delivering broad theory, it dives straight into seven key questions that guide better workplace conversations. Readers benefit from advice on reducing daily stress and meeting overload, while ensuring problems get tackled at their roots. The author also integrates easy-to-adopt tips for busy managers, making it simple to embed small moments of coaching into regular interactions.

Stanier’s writing style is friendly and concise, avoiding jargon and lengthy explanations. He addresses how to empower employees, delivering insights that are equally valuable for new leaders or experienced professionals. By framing coaching as a routine habit, the book offers lasting value, not just a temporary fix. If you want an effective, manageable system for helping your team grow and thrive, The Coaching Habit is a recommended resource.

Who should read The Coaching Habit?

Newly promoted leaders who want to move from micromanaging to guiding effectively
Seasoned managers who aim to increase team engagement and autonomy
HR professionals looking to embed a coaching culture in the organization
Team leaders seeking a consistent method to support long-term employee development

About the author

Michael Bungay Stanier is a renowned author, speaker, and thought leader in personal development and coaching. He is the founder of Box of Crayons, a learning and development company that has trained over 100,000 leaders, managers, and individual contributors worldwide. Stanier was named the #1 Thought Leader in Coaching in 2019, the first Canadian Coach of the Year, and a Global Coaching Guru since 2014. He is also a Rhodes Scholar and has written "The Coaching Habit," which has sold nearly a million copies and is considered the best-selling coaching book of this century.