Episode Summary
In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver clarifies the crucial distinction between coaching and simply giving advice. He explains that great coaching often involves very little advice-giving. Instead, it’s about the intersection of being directional and conversational, with the best coaches asking good questions to help individuals uncover their own solutions. Mike emphasizes the philosophical belief that people possess the skills and knowledge to solve their own problems, they just need to be asked the right questions to unlock those answers. The fundamental difference, he concludes, lies in whether your approach is more about telling or asking.
Key Takeaways
- Great coaching primarily involves asking insightful questions rather than directly giving advice.
- Assume that individuals already possess the knowledge and skill to solve their problems, they just need guidance to uncover the answers.
- The core difference between coaching and advice is whether your interaction is centered on telling or asking.
Notable Quotes
- “The big difference in coaching somebody and just giving advice is that coaching often doesn’t give advice.”
- “Great coaches ask good questions and then, if necessary, teach a skill or solve a problem.”
- “Coaching tends to ask more questions. Advice giving tends to be more telling.”
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