A 3-2-1 for Michael Bungay Stanier’s “The Advice Trap”:
3 Key Ideas
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The “Advice Monster”. This is our tendency to immediately offer advice when asked for help, which often leads to ineffective solutions and stunts the growth of others.
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Be more coach-like. Being more “coach-like” involves staying curious longer, asking thoughtful questions, and resisting the urge to give immediate advice.
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Coaching mindset. Adopting a coaching mindset can lead to stronger team performance, more empowered employees, and better organizational outcomes.
2 Relevant Quotes
“You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.”
— Naguib Mahfouz
“Generous silence provides space for the other person to be with their own self, for you to be with them, for presence to show up. It allows them to take a breath. It whispers, ‘This is an interesting place to be. Let’s hang out here for a moment.'”
— Michael Bungay Stanier
1 Tip to Apply
- Practice the “AWE Question” - “And What Else?" - when in conversations. This simple question encourages the other person to dig deeper, explore more options, and often leads to better insights and solutions without you having to provide direct advice.
