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Michael Bungay Stanier

Founder of Box of Crayons
EPISODE 156

Be curious

Picture this:

Someone on your team comes to you with a question about how to approach a problem theyr’e facing. 

What do you do? 

If you’re like most leaders, your first instinct is to dispense some advice. And that’s understandable! You’re sitting in that leadership role precisely because you’ve got all kinds of great wisdom and insight to share.

But according to today’s guest, that approach can backfire.

Michael Bungay Stanier is a bestselling author and the founder of a company called Box of Crayons that equips leaders to become better coaches.

He’s on a mission to help leaders move away from giving advice and instead leverage the power of curiosity to draw out their team.

For Michael, curiosity is a leadership superpower that helps you find better ideas, pinpoint the right problems, and get more from your teammates.

And this conversation is jam-packed with practical ways to help you do ALL that. 

You’ll also learn:

  • One three-word question that will change the way you coach your team
  • The three different kinds of “Advice Monsters” (and how to tame yours!)
  • How to use the power of silence
  • The one thing you need to do in a difficult working relationship
  • A practical framework to navigate a big company leadership transition 
  • One specific question that will help you dig deeper in any relationship
  • Three principles to improve your communication skills

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go 

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

More from Michael Bungay Stanier

Dig deeper to find out what the real challenge is
Instead of being quick to offer advice, become known as the leader who encourages your team to figure out what the problem is and come up with their own solutions for solving it.
Get comfortable with silence
Ask a question, then wait. It might feel awkward, but it’s a powerful way to give people the space they need to respond thoughtfully.
Decide how to work together before deciding what to work on
Working with a team? Before you jump into the task at hand, have a conversation about how to work together. It’ll help you handle the challenges you face along the way.
Be clear on which decisions are whose
If you want a successful leadership transition, set boundaries around decisions. This framework can help you clarify which decisions need your input and which don’t.

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Short (but powerful) leadership advice from entrepreneurs and CEOs of top companies like JPMorgan Chase, Target, Starbucks and more.

Clips

  • Innovation requires curiosity
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons
  • The first problem is rarely the real problem
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons
  • Don’t be too quick to give advice
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons
  • Dig past the first answer
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons
  • Get comfortable with silence
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons
  • Decide how to work together before deciding what to work on
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons
  • Be clear on which decisions are whose
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons
  • Ask, “What needs to be said that hasn’t been?”
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons
  • Train deep, not wide
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons
  • Express old ideas in new ways
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons
  • Give people a chance to figure things out
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Founder of Box of Crayons

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