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

I found this book on target, succinct, and immediately actionable. 

My notes

The primary questions to ask when coaching:

1. What’s on your mind? (Intentionally open-ended)
2. And what else? (Keeps the mentee thinking about influencing factors past the initial description)
3. What’s the real challenge here for you? (Avoid mentor bias)
4. What do you want? (Focus on the mentee’s goals)
5. How can I help? (Also avoids mentor bias)
6. What was most useful to you?  (Reflection helps learning and retention)
   

On saying Yes

• If you are saying yes to this, what are you saying no to?
• A yes is nothing without the No that gives it boundaries and form.
• Say yes slowly in order to be curious before committing.

 It is easier to get into things than to get out of things.

Fascinating quotes from the book

• What people think of as the moment of discovery is really the discovery of the question - Jonas Salk
• The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw
• Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable - Eisenhower

And finally

Buy the book and read it.  These are great notes but they don't do it justice.