The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever is a self-help book within a business context. According to Palmetto Publishing, “The self-help book genre contains nonfiction books written with the intention of instructing the reader on how to solve a problem or improve an area of their life or providing other guidance” (“Self-Help Book Genre.” Palmetto Publishing, 2023). The Coaching Habit provides tools and guidance for those in positions where they supervise others, such as managers. While the book largely urges readers to avoid giving advice, as it is an ineffective long-term coaching strategy, the book itself advises readers on best practices in the field of business leadership. Sometimes, direct advice or a push is needed. For readers who sense that their own leadership skills may need improvement, the book serves a specific purpose, its instructional tone and covering of themes such as Effective Communication, Coaching Techniques, and Fostering Meaningful Conversations placing it within the self-help genre.

The audience for the book is those seeking to further develop their leadership skills. However, Michael Bungay Stanier asserts that his methods have border applications and can be useful in a wider variety of relationships outside of manager-employee. He attempts to make a case that the reader needs to adopt an effective coaching habit. His argument depends on the assumption that across the corporate landscape, there is an overabundance of ineffective coaching. Bungay Stanier also assumes readers will not be entirely familiar with his proposition that using seven key questions will yield positive results. With these assumptions in mind, the first section, entitled “You Need a Coaching Habit,” is carefully constructed to position the reader as someone who is not in the know, while Bungay Stanier is in the know. He introduces his purpose, which is to provide managers and other leaders with a more effective management style.

While the book is intended to be persuasive, it also strives to be genuine. There are frequent first-person intrusions that create the sense that Bungay Stanier has the same leadership tendencies as the reader. He positions himself alongside the reader so his advice does not read as condescending or following the traditional, top-down command structure. It’s as though he is in dialogue with the reader, adhering to the leadership model covered in the book. Bungay Stanier also uses data and multimedia to support his arguments and further readers’ learning.