The coaching habit
by Michael Bungay Stanier · first published 2016
92% recommend8% critical
Why HN recommends it
A short, practical guide to coaching rather than advising, with concrete questions for one-on-ones and team problems. Useful for new managers and engineers who lead teams.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Want to say less, work less, and have more impact? Stanier gives you the seven core questions that will help you provide more effective support to your employees and co-workers. By unlocking their potential, you'll be able to unlock your own.
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…kids. I am still learning but this book has been a huge help. The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking by Barbara Minto - huge help with improving my written communication at my job. The Coaching Habit by Michael Stanier - short book but huge help when your transitioning to managing people. Made to Stick by Dan Heath - was a huge help in planning how I would teach elementary students last month about…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗…(https://www.amazon.com/Making-Manager-What-Everyone-Looks-eb...) 2. The Manager's Path (https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...) 3. Crucial Conversations (https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Talking-Stakes-...) 4. The Coaching Habit (https://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Habit-Less-Change-Forever-eb...) 5. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Len...) I'm still due to read High Output…
on “Manager'ing: An Overview for New Managers” ↗"The coaching habit" by Michael Bungay-Stanier - I've done some coaching training, and this is a great intro to using some of those concepts in looking after a team.
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2018?” ↗…management work now. Pg had that essay about maker time and manager time that is spot on. Transitioning to a manager role is a different skill set. I would highly recommend the following two books The Coaching Habit by Stanier and Extreme Ownership by Willink and Babin ( audio version is amazing )
on “Ask HN: Going from Developer to Manager. What should I know or learn?” ↗…you will feel over your head. You will essentially be Peter Principaling yourself. If you are going to do it, read a ton of books. Minimum in my opinion are: 1. The Managers Path -- general advise 2. Coaching Habit -- for performing 1 on 1s 3. Extreme Ownership -- for building an effective culture that delivers results.
on “Ask HN: Advice for a new and inexperienced tech lead?” ↗…resource. Books: - Leaders Eat Last - Managing Humans - What Got You Here, Won't Get You There - Radical Focus - Leading Snowflakes: The Engineering Manager Handbook - The Manager's Path - The Coaching Habit - Thanks for the Feedback
on “Tips for moving into management [audio]” ↗I try to do 1-on-1s with my team once every two weeks just to see how they are doing. Recently I have been using some of the framework from The Coaching Habit book. I have found that a little easier to get to the important issues.
on “Ask HN: Do you find 1-on-1s with supervisor/team members beneficial?” ↗You may enjoy reading the book "The Coaching Habit" which, while not directly talking about coding and code reviews, has a lot of good guidance on how to bring a coaching mindset to them.
on “The Coach in the Operating Room (2011)” ↗…especially enjoyed: - The Effectivd Executive - How to Win Friends and Influence People - Never Split the Difference - Code Simplicity - Atomic Habits - The Lessons of History - Superhuman by Habit - The Coaching Habit - On the Shortness of Life - Deep Survival - Desiring the Kingdom - Masters of Doom You can check out the full list at my Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/50310109-paul-cook?ord... Planning…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗I would highly recommend reading the short book The Coaching Habit. The seven questions and their discussion have been instrumental in improving the 1 on 1s I have with my team of developers.
on “Ask HN: What do you talk about in 1-on-1 with manager?” ↗…Minute Manager. It is written in story format, and its a very simple set of three concepts. I have tried other books, but they usually have too much to remember. One other book I found useful was The Coaching Habit. It gives you a different perspective on how to deal with the emotional aspect of leadership.
on “Ask HN: What makes a good technical leader – any recommended books?” ↗You can read 'The Coaching Habit' to help you in your relationship with subordinates. 'Getting to Yes' and 'Exactly What to Say' could be helpful books when you have to negotiate with your superiors or peers.
on “Ask HN: New Leadership Job Advice” ↗Getting to Yes; Exactly What to Say; The Coaching Habit These are a few that I read and found useful. I'm not a CTO, just an intermediate developer.
on “Ask HN: What are some good books for a new CTO to read?” ↗sounds just like the advice in the book "The Coaching Habit" which i thought was great
on “Software development topics I've changed my mind on” ↗The Coaching Habit is a fantastic book and is the right way to do. Managers don't exist to solve other peoples problems; it's vice versa. Managers are accountable for a problem, and responsible for building a team that…
on “Transparent leadership beats servant leadership” ↗