The Coaching Habit | Say Less, Ask More, Lead Better
Skip to the content

The
Coaching Habit

 

Stay curious longer. Rush to advice and action a little more slowly. 

That’s the core idea behind The Coaching Habit, the best selling book on coaching of the century. It’s not just for leaders or coaches, it’s for anyone who wantso to have better conversations and build braver relation ships. 

The Coaching Habit

GEt Curious WIth Me

Whether you’re leading a team, navigating a tricky relationship, or parenting a teenager, this book teaches you how to turn everyday interactions into moments of learning, clarity, and connection. 

Here’s how:

  • How to use the seven Essential Questions to make your conversations more effective
  • How to coach anyone in ten minutes or less
  • How to build trust without needing to have all the answers
  • How to best manage your overwhelming workload
  • How to break the habit of always rushing to give advice

Grab Your Copy

The Coaching Habit

Available in multiple formats

Traditional Book
Audio Book
E-book

*If you can, please support your local independent bookseller.

What Readers Say

It has revolutionized my approach to leadership.

I’ve owned “The Coaching Habit” for over a year now, and I can confidently say it has revolutionized my approach to leadership. Michael Bungay Stanier offers practical, actionable advice that has made a significant difference in my coaching style. The seven essential questions laid out in the book are game-changers—they not only encourage deeper conversations but also empower my team to think critically and independently.

What I love most is the focus on simplicity and clarity. Stanier’s engaging writing style makes it easy to understand and implement the concepts, even for someone who may not consider themselves a natural coach. The emphasis on asking questions rather than providing answers has allowed me to foster a culture of growth and exploration within my team.

In the past year, I’ve noticed a marked improvement in team dynamics and individual accountability. This book isn’t just a read; it’s a toolkit for lasting change. I highly recommend “The Coaching Habit” to anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and create a more engaged and empowered team. Five stars all the way!

This book will transform your team, your org, and you!

I bought and read this book 2 years ago and it hasn’t left my side since. “The Coaching Habit” by Michael Bungay Stanier offers a refreshing perspective on leadership and coaching. Recommended by a colleague in the coaching field, this book provides valuable insights for professionals seeking to enhance their leadership skills.

Stanier’s approach centers on seven essential coaching questions, a seemingly straightforward concept that proves remarkably powerful in practice. The third question, “What’s the real challenge here for you?” stands out as particularly impactful. It serves as a crucial reminder that surface issues often mask deeper challenges, encouraging coaches to delve beyond initial presentations.

The book’s principles demonstrate impressive versatility. I’ve coached senior executuves all over the world, appling Stanier’s methods across diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. The results were consistently positive, yielding customized, impactful coaching conversations that transcended cultural and experiential differences.

“The Coaching Habit” reinforces the fundamental importance of asking insightful questions and listening attentively to responses. It also provides the framework to pose more challenging, tactical questions such as, “If you say yes to this, what are you saying no to?” This approach often leads to significant breakthroughs in coaching sessions.

The book’s teachings are widely applicable, benefiting anyone in a leadership role or those who regularly interact with others in professional settings. Stanier’s writing style, while professional, remains engaging and accessible.

If you’re a busy manager like me, this book is a must-read!

Makes coaching feel less like a chore and more like an integral part of the day. The seven essential questions are easy to remember and super practical. I’ve started using the Kickstart Question in my daily meetings, and it has helped me get straight to the point while encouraging my team to share their insights.

If you’re a busy manager like me, this book is a must-read! It’s witty, engaging, and provides real strategies to unlock your team’s potential without overwhelming your schedule.

This guide revolutionizes the coaching process

This guide revolutionizes the coaching process by emphasizing the power of asking the right questions. Michael’s practical techniques enable leaders to foster deeper connections and unlock their team’s potential. An essential resource for anyone looking to enhance their leadership style and drive meaningful change.

A compelling guide for anyone looking to improve their coaching skills

“The Coaching Habit” by Michael Bungay Stanier is a compelling guide for anyone looking to improve their coaching skills, be it in a managerial capacity or a personal context. Stanier emphasizes the power of asking the right questions over giving advice, presenting a practical approach to cultivating more productive and meaningful conversations. The book is structured around seven essential coaching questions that promise to transform everyday interactions into opportunities for growth and learning. Through its concise and engaging style, it demystifies the coaching process, making it accessible and actionable for readers from all walks of life. Stanier’s blend of humor, real-world examples, and actionable insights makes “The Coaching Habit” a valuable resource for both novice and experienced coaches.

I’m grateful that I bought this book

This is an excellent book if you’d like to improve your communication and leadership skills. I love how simple and direct the the writing is. It is outlined well to help the reader remember and implement what you are learning. I learned a lot and found great value; For that, I’m grateful that I bought this book.

Must read for any coach and/or leader looking to better their coaching abilities

This book has been one of the most recommended resources for the executives and leaders that I (and my team) have trained in the last 7 years or so. In the context of training and leadership coaching, the question of “how to be a better coach” often comes up. The Coaching Habit is the resource we point to in order to help leaders and teams learn key coaching principles. Must read for any coach and/or leader looking to better their coaching abilities.

This is THE BOOK for Coaching

This is it. Look no further. It breaks it down into some really simple questions. I’ve been using these techniques now for several years. This works 1:1 and with groups (with some adjustments and extra guiding). I work in corrections. We’re problem-solvers. This book helps us not be, and allows you to put the solving back on the person with the problem. It’s genius. MBS is also hilarious and that humor carries throughout the text. Buy this.

Want to learn patience

This book I found after watching a tictok about patience and how to become a better listener. The speaker suggested this book. I ordered it and read it. Seems to be geared toward management and listening better but you can apply that to your partner and children too.

I’m learning how to be a better listener rather than shutting down or speaking over. I suggest it. Its a good read and I think we all can be better for ourselves, right?

Looking for something mentioned in the book? 

From the video vault to the lavendar margarita recipe, everything is organized in one, tidy place for you. 

First Name(Required)

Ready to build a new habit ?

Grab the book. Pick a question.
Try it out in your next conversation. See what shifts.

Get My Copy

What if your whole organization stopped rushing to advice?

Box of Crayons helps large companies build the skill of coach-like curiosity at scale.  If you’re looking to bring the book to life in your organization, they’ll help you do it.

Connect with Box of Crayons